Minnesota Communities

	Red Wing: Civil War

Source

Letter 2

Type

Letter

Year

1861

Source

Minnesota Historical Society

Size

322K

After three months in the army, Edward L. Davis wrote this letter from Washington, DC.

Washington DC. July 27th 1861
Friend Emma
yours of the 17th
was received Monday after
I returned to Alexandera and
was read with pleasure, was glad
to know that you and your family were well.
I had not heard from home for over a week and
after returning from a long and tedious march
of a week. I ashure you to receive a line from
Red Wing at that time; was a great pleasure to
see ... I have no news of importance to Interest you
with, I was in the Battle on Sunday, we were in
close quarters and a tight Place and many a Brave
fellow in our Regiment met a Soldier's death. I never
Recall of the like of that battle in my life soon
... I never wish to see the like again we went
at front ... of ... several times. It is
a great wonder how one of the Big Event
escaped from being killed.
Joseph Jamison was wounded;
and we supposed him dead but
have not heard from any
of the wounded or the surgeons
since the Battle, our retreat
was so sudden that the wounded
were probably taken Prisoners and it is
rumored that they killed all the wounded.
Charlie Harris was killed. we lost 17 from
our Company only 2 heard from supposed
to be living the rest seemed dead 11 we
know was killed of our Co - the Col - official
report - is 48 killed 107 wounded and 44 missing
in the Regament though it will ekceed that
not withstanding their unfair way of fighting
and in not knowing of their forces and batteries,
we can whip them 2 to one and even 3 to one in a fair fight. The men
in our Reg showed much skill and bravery
and but for their loading our guns laying down
not one of would likely have lived to tell
the tale of the battle at ... which
we all well remmebr to the ... day we
shall live. for it was the hardest days work
I ever expect to do we marched 12 miles from
Centerville to the battle ground and fought over
2 hours hard fighting and even retreated to
Alexandera 42 miles doing all inside of 31 hours
and only 2 hours elect during the time and going
without food for 24 hours haveing thrown off
our rations before going into the field of
action. Lieutenant Welch was wounded
and missing it is suppsed he is dead it is
reported or rumored rather that the
enemy burnt the hospital and killed the
wounded on the field. I believe it they
are a set of barabarians at the best.
Colville fought like a tiger and took ...
Prisoners...