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Now that I have your attention, I found this letter while looking through a local paper and thought that it was wild. It appeared in the Rhinebeck Gazette (New York) on May 10th 1864.
So my question is, who makes the best Confederate War Elephant armor? :wink_smil
“A Rhinebecker who says he was in the first “Bull Run” fight, (and who did not stop running until he arrived in this village), told some very big yarns in regard to what he had seen; but we think the following extract from a private letter – VA., April 27th, rather takes “Bull Run” down:
Friend-,
I drop a line merely to say that I am here- safe, but not particularly sound, except on the goose. *** I went to the Camp of the 44th N.Y., yesterday afternoon and had a talk with Jake Hagerman. I never saw him look so well *** Appearances indicate that you will hear of a heavy slaughter in a few days. Somebody will “get hurt” this time.
The mail will soon close, and so must I; but cannot omit to mention, that an immense Mastodon was captured near here last night, after a desperate engagement of two hours. Three regiments of Regulars and five Volunteer Brigades were in the fight, and were twice repulsed with terrific slaughter. The wounded are being taken to the hospital by hundreds. The troops fled in confusion till they got under cover of Fort Ellsworth, which opened its batteries of 200 pounder rifled Parrots on the enraged animal. Two balls struck him on the head, which stunned him and resulted in his capture. He is an awful looking beast, and estimated to weigh 340 tons. – Musket and rifle balls have no more effect on him than a potato pop-gun against a stonewall. He is 28 feet high, 64 feet long, and tusks about 30 feet. In the chase he mowed down immense trees as if they were straws, nothing seeming to be an impediment to him. His terrific bellowing could be distinctly heard for six miles around. MYERS would make a big thing if he would come here and take a picture of him.”
Friend-,
I drop a line merely to say that I am here- safe, but not particularly sound, except on the goose. *** I went to the Camp of the 44th N.Y., yesterday afternoon and had a talk with Jake Hagerman. I never saw him look so well *** Appearances indicate that you will hear of a heavy slaughter in a few days. Somebody will “get hurt” this time.
The mail will soon close, and so must I; but cannot omit to mention, that an immense Mastodon was captured near here last night, after a desperate engagement of two hours. Three regiments of Regulars and five Volunteer Brigades were in the fight, and were twice repulsed with terrific slaughter. The wounded are being taken to the hospital by hundreds. The troops fled in confusion till they got under cover of Fort Ellsworth, which opened its batteries of 200 pounder rifled Parrots on the enraged animal. Two balls struck him on the head, which stunned him and resulted in his capture. He is an awful looking beast, and estimated to weigh 340 tons. – Musket and rifle balls have no more effect on him than a potato pop-gun against a stonewall. He is 28 feet high, 64 feet long, and tusks about 30 feet. In the chase he mowed down immense trees as if they were straws, nothing seeming to be an impediment to him. His terrific bellowing could be distinctly heard for six miles around. MYERS would make a big thing if he would come here and take a picture of him.”
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