Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-05-21

eNo ""ucihS tuiuSS uappeh' ~
while we were on this duty, and
some rather dangerous, but as 7 cid
not start in to give details, omit
them.
forgot to state at the proper
place that in the election of officers
in our company / was the only can
didate who received every vote.
This l regard as-one of the highest
compliments ever paid me.
ID. M. Russell.
The following is copy of a letter
written by David Marion Russell
while in Manchester Hospital, Vir-
ginia, to his mother:
Manchester Hospital, Virginia,
July 8, 1s62.-Dear Mother For the
first time since have been in service
l address you from hospital. You
have probably been informed before
this that I received quite painful,
though not dangerous, wound in
Mondays fight. The ball entered
on the outer side of my foot, just
below the ankle, and came out on the
inner side, fraoturing some of the
small bones near the ankle joint.
The wound looks healthy, and is do
ing, think, very we'll. I intend re-
moving to private house as soon as
l can make arrangements 80 to do.
l am kindly cared for here, but the
hospital is very crowded. 1 think
could do better in more quiet
place.
The battle on Monday was dread
full, exceeding anything in severity
by far that l have seen. Our hri-
gade made tho attack, charged and
drove the Yankees from formidable
fortifications where they had eleven
cannon planted. The charge was
made through an open field two or
three hundred yards wide, exposed
all the while to dreadful fire of ar
tillery and musketry. / have often
heard of its raining lead, but never
saw an illustration of it before. l
was wounded when within about
twenty PAGES of their Notifications
and just as the enemy gave way.
The Yankees fought manfully--iD
fact some of them were bayoneted
before they would leave. We sue
ceeded, however, in completely rout-
ing them, killing and capturing a
great many, and the taking of their
cannon, but oh at what fearful
expense of life! Our company alone
had four killed dead on the field and
twenty-five wounded. The names
OF the killed are j. b. Rutledge, s.
p. McJ Junkin, VIM. Isbell and D. L..
Simmons. ODE Butler was mortally
wounded; A. P. Harbin was shot
through both thighs, but didn't break
any bones j. M. Knox had his leg
broken. All the other wounds are
slight. have not been able to get
full list of the wounded or l would
furnish you with them. j. w. Strib-
ling, w. J. Harbin, E. J. Cleveland
and j. Il. Duke are in the hospital
with me. Their wounds are slight
and they expect soon to start home
on furlough. Our company went
into the fight with thirty-two men
and only three we're left uninjured.
We were exposed to a cross-fire,
owing to the fact that some regi-
ments on our left failed to come to
our support when ordered. 1 am
sorry to say, too, that they were
Carolinians. Moore's regiment
fought gallantly by our side during
the engagement. Our regiment is
literally cut to pieces. Notwith-
standing the heavy odds against them
they pressed on undaunted until vic
tory perched upon our banners. This
great battle has now continued for
six successive days with dreadful
slaughter on both sides. All the
hospitals and nearly all the private
houses in Richmond are crowded
with the wounded. Surgeons and
nurses are in great demand.
have had no reliable news from
the field of operations since Tuesday,
but hear it reported that Mcclellan
is In full retreat with his whole army
and our forces in hot pursuit. 1t
seems almost impossible to rout an
army of such discipline and magni-
tude as his. In every engagement
yet we have beaten him badly, and
his long cherished scheme for the
capture of our capital is, hope, for
ever crushed.
feel very thankful that have
escaped so lightly, while many of
my fellow-soldiers fell so thick end
fast. only regret not being able to
be of any more service during this
enuaUanant MOS h;t =, g..