Thank You for putting this on the List---I'm crying--had to print this--I have a 13 year old and I think I supply the teacher with documentation for his teaching about the War--to make it real for the Kids is hard to do...how do you let them feel what the people felt..the pain..the sorrow..PEOPLE JUST don't write feelings anymore...not like this. Susie >From: Javan Michael DeLoach <javan@paonline.com> >Reply-To: DELOACH-L@rootsweb.com >To: DELOACH-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [DELOACH-L] Letter about Dr. Alfred Burton DeLoach, Jr. >Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 01:13:27 -0400 >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Received: from [209.85.6.30] by hotmail.com (3.2) with ESMTP id >MHotMailBAE8D373003ED820F3E0D155061E0E860; Sun May 14 22:17:40 2000 >Received: (from slist@localhost)by bl-14.rootsweb.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) id >WAA12285;Sun, 14 May 2000 22:16:53 -0700 (PDT) >From DELOACH-L-request@rootsweb.com Sun May 14 22:18:44 2000 >Resent-Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 22:16:53 -0700 (PDT) >X-Original-Sender: javan@paonline.com Sun May 14 22:16:50 2000 >Message-Id: <4.3.1.2.20000515010727.00b9c140@127.0.0.1> >X-Sender: javan/mail.paonline.com@127.0.0.1 >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 4.3.1 >Old-To: deloach-l@rootsweb.com >Old-Cc: Curtis Bush Hasty IV <chasty@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu> >Resent-Message-ID: <7vgAhD.A.0_C.Eh4H5@bl-14.rootsweb.com> >Resent-From: DELOACH-L@rootsweb.com >X-Mailing-List: <DELOACH-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/1301 >X-Loop: DELOACH-L@rootsweb.com >Precedence: list >Resent-Sender: DELOACH-L-request@rootsweb.com > >Hi Everyone, > >The following letter was posted on the Sumner County, TN Mail List. It is >to Mrs. Fannie E. Young DeLoach and concerns the actions of her husband, >Dr. Alfred Burton DeLoach, Jr. during the Civil War. Thanks to Curtis Bush >Hasty IV <chasty@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu> for sharing this most >interesting letter: > > > > > Gallatin, Tenn. > Dec. 18th, 1899. > >Mrs. Fannie E. Deloach. > >My dear Madam: > > Your letter came promptly to hand. I read it time and time >again, with pleasure and sorrow combined. for years and years have I tried >to >find my dear, dear good friend, Dr. DeLoach, but no trace could be given >until >your good letter came to hand. I was so sorry to learn of his death; >regret >so much I could never see him again and tell him of the love and unbounded >admiration that I and all true soldiers had for his dauntless courage. > It was on Sunday morning, Sept. 20th, at Chicamauga, our Regt. >the 2nd Tennessee (Bates'old Regt.) started in the fight, with every >available >man that could march. Soon we were in the very hottest of the fray, and >the >command came down the line to charge; and with that noted "Rebel Yell" our >line, with the hope of victory, charged the parapet walls, when nearly >every >man was either killed or wounded. Here within bayonet touch, or nearly so, >I >fell Very severely [sic] wounded through both thighs, shot from a cannon, >strick [sic] by canister shot that passed through and left me helpless on >the >field; could scarcely move hand or foot; I could only see two living men, >but >many dead around me. The Yankees by this time had risen to the top of the >breastworks, firing and swearing as they came. Our lines had fallen back >and >victory seemed theirs. Right here in my helpless condition, so wounded and >confronted by this deadly line as it were, comes the most daring courage I >ever knew. while it is accordance with all military laws and regulations >that >the surgeons stay in the rear and care for the wounded as they go out or >are >taken back, giving no attention to the dead or those in ranks, yet with all >this in his mind, Dr. DeLoach, with more courage that any hundred men, came >up >and took me from the very jaws of death, and while the bullets came thick >and >fast he slowly dragged me back some hundred yards and placed me behind a >tree, >taking from his own neck a canteen of whiskey and one of water from my >neck; >then said, after a quick examination of my sever wounds, "Although very >severe" he said, "your [sic] are not going to die now. I will go and come >again with some help and get you off." But they never would allow him to >come >to me again. he went to the Regt. called for volunteers, he at head, tried >time and again but by this time both sides had deployed their skirmish >lines >and I was about equidistant between the two and remained all day. They >fired >at me time and time again, accompanied with oaths and abuses, I was so >close >to the enemy that we could talk in almost an ordinary tone of voice. >Nothing >saved me but the little tree that this good and ........ had sheltered me >behind. Late in the evening our line advanced and I was taken up. Don't >remember that I ever saw Dr. any more, though I have every reason to >believe >he came to me that night and administered to my wants; but my loss of blood >with the cold chilly night left us delirious, and the fate of war and >movement >of armies and wounded soldiers separated us, and I never again saw the >brave >hero to whom I owe my life. > I can well understand how a bold man can advance with a firing >line in the midst of shouts and firing of small arms, booming of cannon >etc; >but for one to come with no stimulant save his own courage, advance alone >to >within the touch of the bayonet of the deadly enemy, is without a parallel, >and in our opinion stands without any near approach even by the deeds of >Dewey, Schley, Hobson and others whose deeds of valor seem to have the >world >ablaze. I was nothing special to Dr. DeLoach; he scarcely knew me; but as >explanation goes, he saw and realized too the acts of a true and bold >soldier >who was in the very fire and would be pounded and punched to death by the >cowardly yankees. That he could not see; rather than know this he resolved >to >give up his own life sooner than see his own soldier insulted and >butchered. > It is one of my regrets that I did not know he lived in Longview >or Texarkana. I would have come to visit this friend above all others. >Though >money has been scarce with me and time valuable, some of my hard earnings >would have gone in this way, and I would have looked to it as a great >pleasure >to be with one so noble, so brave, so true. > My dear friend, you and your children have my sympathy; in truth >the >loss of this husband and father is great; he was a protection to you and >yours >in the deepest sense. > I have spoken to several of our soldiers about the Dr. since I got >your letter. One, "Yes, I remember Dr. DeLoach; he was the bravest man I >ever >saw." Another says, "Certainly I do; he saved my life by some quick >surgical >operations." Every one loves to talk about him and his daring deeds. > Now in conclusion, I want to insist on your coming to see us. You >would receive a great welcome from the old soldier friends, myself and >family. >I married a little late in life, but have a good wife and two little girls; >one 12 years old, the other about 6, all of whom would give you a most >hearty >welcome. Or your children either; let them come; one or all of them. it is >not a long run; we are only 26 miles from Nashville. I want you to come >and >spend a month or so - long as you will; come winter or summer. This is a >good >climate, and I believe you would enjoy it. Wife and children join me in >love >to you and yours and say come, do come and see us. > > I now subscribe myself, > one of your very best friends. > J. B. Malone > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com