Year: 1862

BUCK GROVE, KY, Jan. 10, 1862.
Ny DEAR WEx-I wrote TO you last night, and dated
my letter "the night before battle )" this "fth night
after battle terrific and fierce battle Of
;hree hours which resulted in defeat and the terrible
slaughter Of troops. For two hours the bullets ie
all around mo- and sometimes passed within few inches
Of my head If may judge from the whstling noise the
from harm, and of the field without scratch.
Our regiment lost ten or fifteen men and there are others
missing who may bo yet wandering in the woods, seek
ing an opportunity to get in.


The cause of our defeat not definitely ascsrtaned
Some attribute it 10 overwhelming numbers. they being
two to our Others fall of General zoilcoier
who killed early in the action. Both probably
the combined causes At first and for nearly
two hours the tide Of battle was in our favor,
mand, and three regiments, viz :-Murrays, Powells
and mine. all Of which had been ordered up TO the
place where the battle was raging remained in position
ready TO enter the woods whore the enemy were under
firing upon u.s. but order came at least to
and presume mono TO the other eoonels as both OF
Them being in advance OF remained in their position
for nearly one aud half hour without advancing We
in open space with nothing 10 shelter except
IN occasional stump or fallen tree. The generals aid
and told that charge haa been ordered, that the
Mississippi regiment would charge the right wing and
Tsnnesssesns the left at the time either Cummings
Battles would attack the centre. The charge
made, and for half an hour the conflict was terrific
then the troops como out Of the wood in disorder
and \ run. Colonel Powell moved his regiment of TO
ny right and rear. Ny about to follow when
ordered them TO stand 70 their position and meet the
enemy drive him back die in thsir tracks. AT this





turned IL. The fight was becoming general, when
one told me We were firing on our
req down MY ms,s men m. to n
upon Finding We were fanked and the
my within about sixty yards ordered to depoy
aud take behind fence about thirty yards TO
right, which they did in good order, and the fight
tinuel fercey for fifteen twenty minutes. then dis
covered that all the other regiments had left the field but
mine had only two hundred and fifty men, and we
being pressed in front and the left flank by thou
sands then ordered the men TO take cover behind the
point OF the HILL which we did, but finding the other
troops retreatng, my men started to follow. rallied
about half OF them and turned the point OF the h pass
ing through field and was marching up the battle
ground, when the bght'-


COLONEL WOOD TO HIS BROTHER, IN COMMAND AT


KNOXVILLE.


CHATTANOOGA, Ca, Nov. q, 1851
DEAR BRorHER-I received your letter to-day. wrote
two days since Hope you have received II. cannot
up, expect 20 leave only sent here tempo.
rary General Carroll talks Of coming up. He is about
twoihirds full Of whskey think the Union sentiment
is not dead. II will break out again Why do you
hang Of those felowss If get hold a leader
hang him will; and will hang the best have, any
how.


good many Florence people are here Among others,
Leila and baby


do not know what to make Of the fools tha, are to be
found in Tennessee And you should all Of you quit the
name of Union and call them traitors and tories.


Ihave my regiment at Tymus. fifteen miles from town
and will stay there awhile am sure that good regi.
should always be kept at this place, and Knox.
vile, with guards at all the bridges Nothing but this
can Us from these rascas.



has refused to send my sick in the hospital who
getting well. About three thousand additional
troops have gone to Pensacola. IL looks the old sl
low intended TO attack Picksns II so, want 10 return
have had good deal Of trouble coming here with
drunken Florence Guards and several OF them are
under serious charges and will be court martalsd also
Sister Campbell has been up two days. have not
about her she will give You some resh hints when
place then am rid Of this most abominabls company
! heard to-day from home-sll well Write TO Rice
again-to him, not Louis Lee and Jenny Having some
of the money and stop their Winnings will come up 70
. court martial TO bring them Hope 10 see you soon,
but things are TOO uncertain 10 promise now. Write
again. Your brother, Shilling.


GRAVE CHARGE AGAINST REV. 9. BERRY.


MOUNT Horn, Ala, Oct. q 1861.
DEAR SR-After my respects, this will inform you that
the Rev s. Berry has come back with false csrthcsts
He says he was discharged for having 0ts and his ifs
says oil Affected and that he is capable OF doing
such tricks AS regards his hand and arm, there Is
nothing the matter with him, for he has ironsd of a
wagon since he camo here, and weather boarding
gin house. and Colonel Thaxton says IL would be right
for you 70 send for him and put him In servicerake
him serve his time out He is trying to dissuads every
young man from volunteering. Some Of his neighbors
in fact all say II is shame. the tales he tells about the
fare and the way the soldiers treated there under
you He is doing great deal Of harm hsre and II you
could and would send and take him back, you would do
great service for your country You will get letter
from Colonel Thaxton, one Of his neighbors He joined
makes his brags that Alabama the only way he had
TO get away from you Please show ts Captain Bank
head He is the stoutsst bodied In the noghbor.
hood, and could endure as much hardship He says he
drilled but once. Take him back and learn him
what il is TO be soldier. Yours, with respect


W. BROOKS.
To Colonel wooD and Captain BAsKHrAp


THE DEFENcE OF REV. MR.. BERRY.


KINLoCK, Ala, Sept. 4, 1861.
DEAR CAPTAIN W. s. BAyKBgAD-I, az one of your best
friends in this life feel IL my duty 10 drop you few
lines this evening. At homo am, and say to you
that not well yet, never expect 10 be any
this world but have got up and about have i'm
proved great deal since got home have been under
the OF Doctor Crom since came home, Cap
tain f improve " fast more week as havs this
last week shall come TO see you again, and stay with
you as ong as ! can stand IT, will nx myself with
bed clothes 10 keep oil the ground much az
possibly can and think that will be the ono that will
get old Incons skclp, yet am not or heart In try