Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

[sthabig]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Anyone have a link to a copy of this with normal font size? I just about blew my eyeballs out trying to read that thing.

Much appreciated,

Tyler Habig

[Union Navy]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Finally - a reference to the gunboats that provided directed fire at Malvern Hill. I imagine that some of the damage attributed to the land-based artillery was actually caused by the gunboats, firing over the hill as guided by army signalmen. Infantry was not accustomed to facing 8", 9" and 10" shells. The detrimental effects of "friendly fire" were addressed with grim honesty. We need more articles like this instead of glossed over and sanitized "honor and glory" missives.

[Private Glover]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Saved by a yankee pocket bible. Spared by the word of God, eh?

[yeoman]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Sir and Ma'am, here is a bit of Malvern Hill battle description by Henry W. Elson, from Francis T. Millers book, "Photographic History of the Civil War". I'll quote, "While Lee and his army were held in check by the events of June 30th at White Oak Swamp and the other battle at Glendale or Nelson's Farm, the last of the wagon trains had arrived at Malvern Hill. The contest had hardly closed and the smoke had scarcely lifted from the blood soaked field, when the union forces were again in motion toward the James. By noon on July 1st the division reached the position where McClellan decided to turn again upon his assailants. He had not long to wait, for the Confederate columns, led by Longstreet, were close on his trail, and a march of a few miles brought them to the Union outposts. They found the army of the Potomac admirably situated to give defensive battle. Malvern Hill, a plateau, a mile and a half long and half as broad, with its top almost bare of woods, commanded a view of the country over which the Confederate army must approach. Along the western face of this plateau there are deep ravines falling abruptly in the direction of the James River; on the north and east is a gentle slope to the plain beneath, bordered by a thick forest. Around the Summit of the hill, General McClellen had placed tier after tier of batteries, arranged like an amphitheater. Surmounting these on the crest were massed seven of his heaviest siege-guns. His army surrounded this hill, its left flank being protected by the gunboats on the river.

The morning and early afternoon were occupied with many Confederate attacks, sometimes formidable in their nature, but Lee planned for no general move until he could bring up a force that he considered sufficient to attack the strong Federal position. The Confederate orders were to advance when the signal, a yell, cheer, or shout from the men of Armistead's brigade, was given.

Late in the afternoon General D.H. Hill heard some shouting, followed by a roar of musketry. No other general seems to have heard it, for Hill made his attack alone. It was gallantly done, but no army could have withstood the galling fire of the batteries of the Army of the Potomac as they were massed upon Malvern Hill. All during the evening, brigade after brigade tried to force the Union lines. The gunners stood coolly and manfully by their batteries. The Confederates were not able to make concerted efforts, but the battle waxed hot nevertheless. They were forced to breast one of the most devastating storms of lead and canister to which an assaulting army has ever been subjected. The round shot and grape cut through the branches of the trees and the battle-field was soon in a cloud of smoke. Column after column of Southern soldiers rushed up to the death-dealing cannon, only to be mowed down. The thinned and ragged lines, with a valor born of desperation, rallied again and again to the charge, but to no avail. The batteries on the heights still hurled their missiles of death. The field below was covered with the dead and wounded of the Southland.

The gunboats in the river made the battle scene more awe-inspiring with their thunderous cannonading. Their heavy shells shrieked through the forest, and great limbs were torn from the trees as they hurtled by in their outburst of fury.

Night was falling. The combatants were no longer distinguishable except by the sheets of flame. It was nine o'clock before the guns ceased their fire, and only an occasional shot rang out over the bloody field of Malvern Hill.

The courageous though defeated Confederates, looking up the next day through the drenching rain to where had stood the embrasured wall with its grim batteries and lines of blue, that spoke death to so many of his companions-in-arms, saw only deserted ramparts. The Union army had retreated in the darkness of night. But this time no foe harassed its march. Unmolested, it sought its new camp at Harrison's Landing, where it remained until August 3rd, when, as President Lincoln had been convinced of the impracticability of operating from the James River as a base, orders were issued by General Halleck for the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula".

These volumes were published by The Review of Reviews Co. in 1912 and
this description is in vol. l, starting on page 171. This site has 5 vol.

http://djvued.libs.uga.edu/E468x7xM647/phcwmenu.html

This site has all ten vol. with less resolution.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/other/abl/etext/civilwar/toc.html

[lambrew]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Good stuff gang, thank you all for posting. It is pretty descriptive for a letter home. If I got this letter I don't think I would sleep at night. Most soldiers it seems tried to make their time sound safe and boring, even to this day. As said above, accounts like this are important to bear in mind so as to better our understanding of the soldier and do justice to their memory.

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Apparently, I've had this file sitting on my computer for over a year. Wow.

Anyways, here is the transcription I wrote out during many boring lecture classes and lackadaisical days. I've checked it twice for any errors, and there should be none. Although, I noticed at the beginning of the second column of the original file, the word "atom" was used. I wasn't even aware that John Dalton developed the modern atomic theory beginning around 1800!

[Busterbuttonboy]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Jason
Thanks for posting this. It's an incredible letter. A very sad and reflective way to start ones day.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Jason, Thanks for doing that. Indeed a great read and I remember the struggle of getting through the original that was posted. It needs to be shared. Amazing content there! Thanks again to Mark for the initial posting as well!

[Old-South]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

WOW! My Great-great-grandfather, Andrew W. Blake was there. He enlisted as a private in Co. F of the 2nd South Carolina and was parolled as a Sgt Major. It sounded like he received possibly one of many field promotions in that very battle.

[Iron Scout]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Hey Folks,

Kershaw's Brigade has always been an interest for me considering my surroundings. Imagine my suprise when Major Hard's swordbelt popped up on the collector's market recently. It's a very nice field used piece and Shannon has done a great job with the Major's military and social history. Given the renewel of this thread I thought I'd share the link. www.oldsouthantiques.com

Look under "Online Catalog".

Regards,

Neill Rose
PLHA
Iron Scouts

[JustRob]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

I found it interesting that the young captain picked up a fallen man's rifle & cartridge box and used them for the remainder of the battle.

Primitive atomic theory in Western thought dates back to the ancient Greeks. The name atom comes from the Greek "ἄτομος"—átomos (from α-, "un-" + τέμνω - temno, "to cut"), which means uncuttable, or indivisible, something that cannot be divided further.

Greek was a popular subject among the educated class. A young man who spent time reading the pre-Socratics would have encountered the term.

[Bill]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

How are you guys able to view this?

Dusty,

I have the same problem?

[Benedict]

Re: Horrific Letter from Kershaw's Brigade

Mark, thanks for uploading this in the first place and Jason for the transcription. A really compelling account!