24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
from letters, 1863-1865, received by Etta Adee of Barrington, NY from brother John, 29th NY Infantry Regiment, in Arkansas and Louisiana
May 24th, 1864
Dear Sister Etta
Your very kind and welcome letter reached me three days ago and I must ask your forgiveness for not answering it sooner, but to tell the truth I have been very busy and could hardly find time to answer it unless I had chosen to write a one line letter such as you frequently speak of which I could not well forgive myself for doing as it would have me so much indebted to you. Yesterday I came off picket duty and as I was up all night I was nearly worn out and tried to rest up yesterday and since my eyes have been so poor I cannot or rather dare not try to write by candle and consequently the answering of your thrice welcome letter has been delayed until the present. You have doubtless have this received my first letter and are more at rest in regard to my present safety than you were when you last wrote, which makes me feel less uneasy about you. I hope at all events that you did not succeeed in worrying yourself sick before you received it and after all the experience you have had in worrying after a poor vagabond soldier since the war has been in progress I can begin to feel that your experience will hereafter be not to worry at all. Through the mercy of that providences which has so long upheld and sustained through trial danger and privation I am still safe and with the exception of being nearly worn out am as well as ever, I never knew what men could go through until I made that trip and I assure you I am not very anxious to see their endurance put to the test again. The last fight we had at Jenkins Ferry on Saline River about forthy five miles from here was a much more decisive battle that we supposed it was. We knew their numbers and their strength and we also knew that the victory was ours, but as we did not pursue them or rather could not for want of supplies, we never knew how badly they were cut up until lately. Our whole loss in that action in killed, wounded and missing will not exceed six hundred. Information lately received put their loss beyond a doubt at four thousand. It was the most deadly fight of the war considering the amount of force engaged and was all mucketry at short range, only three pieces of artillery was brought into action and we captured them before they had done much injury.
We used no artillery at all and the rebels brought no more into action after they lost those I have already spoken of. Our regiment and the 2nd Kansas (colored) charged the battery and after it was captured our Regiment drove the Rebels nearly a quarter of a mile and kept them there until the colored troops dragged the pieces off by hand through swamp over a half mile that was knee deep in the shallowest places. The horses belonging to the artillery were all shot down before the pieces were captured. I always thought that I had seen desperate fighting before that day, but I have since thought that I was mistaken. Both armies had never been beaten and each fought with the confidence which is only inspired by long continued success. We had in action between 4000 & 5000, it is impossible yet to tell how many the rebels did bring into action. They made the attack with 8,000 and then reinforced them heavily and afterwards brought in all the men they could get on the ground I think from what I can learn they must have had at least 16000 in action as their whole force there was not much short of 30,000 and they brought in all the men that they could handle at all. You can well judge what the destruction to such an amount of men would be when brought before. Enfield and Springfield rifles in the hands of men used to sharpshooting from the time they were large enough to load a gun and men too who were all veterans and would handle them coolly as if on a squirrrel hunt. Our Regiment was at one time firing as fast as men could load and fire for an hour and a half. Description of that battle is impossible. I was a mere spectator (my eyes being too sore to do any thing more) I kept my place in the company though and could see and hear more than if I had been busy myself and I do not intend ever to attempt a description of it. May God grant that our army in the east may be successful this time. If they are not what the result will be no one can tell. But enough of blood and battle. I suppose your letters will continue as usual after you get my last and I shall be made happy by their arrival as I used to do before the Expedition. I earnestly hope so at all events and shall try to answer all that I receive and hope I shall receive a great many too. You may rest assured of one thing, that I shall be just as glad to receive them now as ever if not more so and hope more earnestly than ever that this cruel war may soon end so that I may enjoy your society all the time if my personal appearance don't scare you out and that is yet a debatable point, but I will risk the trying of it- if I have an opportunity to write often won't you dearest and good long letter and don't forget to pray for Yours. John
I have been mustered in and am now 2nd Lieut. My shoulders straps make me feel awful big of course I will try and bring through if nothing happens.
