This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: acmgenealogy Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties.randolph/3292.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Phil, Here are three letters from the 19th Indiana. They were not written by soldiers from Randolph County but I thought you might be still be interested in them. Tony Meeks In the following letter Henry Marsh, hospital steward of the 19th Indiana, describes the beginning of the march that would culminate in the battle of Gettysburg. The 19th was part of the famed Iron Brigade along with the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin and the 24th Michigan. The original letter is in Marsh's pension file in the National Archives in Washington, D. C. On September 4, 1861 Marsh enlisted as a private in Company E 19th Indiana Infantry in Indianapolis, Indiana. His mustering in date was November 25, 1861. Marsh remained a private until he was transferred and promoted to the rank of hospital steward on May 11, 1863. Remaining at this rank until the end of the war Marsh stayed with the 19th Indiana until it was combined with the 20th Indiana in 1864. He mustered out with the 20th on July 12, 1865. Marsh died on March 5, 1933 in Muncie, Indiana. I will try and keep you posted. Lee is at Front Royal. We are waiting on his moves, I guess. Gen Cutler is now in comd our brigade. With us today. Where is Gen Meredith in country? Indiana? Centerville VA June 16th 1863 Dear Father I thought I would send you a few lines if I can get this away. I am well now of the diarrhea but they are just loose enough. They have not been troublesome since we left below Fredericksburg. I have been troubled some with something like Rheumatism in my knees but have kept up with the regiment all of the way. The 12th we got up at 2 A.M. and packed up and loaded into the wagon by 4 A.M. and ready. I and two of my attendants left camp at 5.5. The Reg't had gone sometime, we started not knowing which way they had gone we went some distance and lost the trail, but started up a [illegible] striking for Falmouth Station where we arrived a few minutes after 6 going 4 miles, when we arrived at where we saw a surgeon of the 6th Wis who said the 1st Corps was making for Stonemans Switch thence to Berrea [Berea] Church on the Catlet [Cattlet] Station road, when we heard they were striking for that place we passed through Falmouth and came on and got to the Church [Hartwood] just as Gen Wadsworth came out with his head Our flag (it was carried) we lay down and rested an hour or so until they came up. When the Division came up John P. Wood of Co F who had been condemned to be shot for Desertion. He was placed on his coffin elbows tied to his side and the soldiers drawn up in line and all! fired but who were to shoot him if needed the first shots went to his heart and he fell backwards and gasped but two or three times, only the escaping of the breath. I was to see him twice before we left camp he was very penitent and the Chaplain Bro Jackson and others went over to see him. We also had a prayer meeting there at night. We camped at night near Kelly's ford on Deep Run at a mill where we stopped when we went to Culpeper last year. 13th we marched beyond Morrisville and camped. Crossing the R. R. at Bealton station 14th we moved in the direction of Warrenton then turned to Warrenton Junction where we eat [sic] dinner. Then moved down the R.R. sometimes near and sometimes away some distance. Stoped at Kettle Run about 9 or 10 P.M. and took supper again moved passing by Bristo Station which place, I well know from the sad experience I had there. got some water out of the spring where we had our Hospital, move to Broad Run where we stopped awhile to let t! he troops cross. Arrived at Manassas Junction at sunrise, where we br eakfasted and lay down awhile. Then came to Bull Run where we had dinner. I went down and O such a good bathe. I[?] [illegible] I[?][illegible] considerable of the 'sacred soil' there, as it had been very dusty marching. I don't know when I was so thankful for the privilege. We arrived here (15th) at 4 P.M. and camped. We may stay here for two or three days or may move today, as we are only resting, so that we may move again. Our soldiers are very tired and nearly every one have their feet blistered, many are nearly bad as if burned, or skin peeled off. Since visiting last Oliver Love Died at Wind Mill Point of Inflammation of the Brain (as I had the diarrhea) Hufford and Elisha Whiccar of Co 'E' who deserted are now at Division. Had two under arrest, C Petty of Co 'B' who was wounded at the charge over the river died some days since. I saw John Kennedy, was over in the Reg't the 14th he is well. He says he has not heard of [illegible] since he was at Belle Plain. He did not send his money home as the pack [?] was sent when he recd his pay. So he loaned it out again Your very kind letter of the 7th , Indiana I read. I am glad 2 am well so I will not try to go home almost impossible any way. I would like to see Mr. Grant, [illegible] they must look grand. Have stood the march first rate to what others did far better than what I expected God be praised for it. he has strengthened me. All well but [illegible] who is in [illegible] French, Klein, Jackson, Simmons, all well. Henry In the following letter Marsh describes the treatment of the wounded after the battle at Gettysburg. This letter appeared in the Indianapolis Daily Journal on August 1, 1863 on page 3 column 2. The spelling and punctuation are unchanged from the original publication. Our Wounded At Gettysburg 1st Div., 1st Army Corps Hospital, White Church, near Gettysburg, Pa. Ed. Journal-There being no higher officer left with our wounded at this place than myself, I desire, in behalf of our brave soldiers, to return their thanks to our friends in this State and our agent in Washington, for the timely and abundant supplies furnished us after the battle of Gettysburg. Most of the slightly wounded of our division were collected at White Church, three miles from Gettysburg, on the Baltimore pike, and at a neighboring house and barn, and were suffering very much for sanitary supplies and food, as our supply and hospital wagons were twenty-five miles off. Many of the men had lost their knapsacks and haversacks, and many of them had nearly all their clothing torn off, being covered with blood. When our regimental hospital wagons came up, I took out the hospital tents, put them up together, and laid a floor in them, and made beds of hay and straw. A few shirts and drawers, which were in the wagon, were given out, still many of the men had shirts on which were quite filthy, as they had not had a chance to change for many days. The next day after our tents were up Mr. Monfort, our State Agent, came up with his assistants, with shirts, drawers, lint, badages [sic] and wine, (Hoosier wine,) which was given out to the men. The soldiers were rejoiced to receive these supplies. "Bully for Indiana!" was the cheerful expression of the men upon receiving these gifts. These were the first donations received from any quarter, either from Agent or Society. The Agent, after getting a list of the killed and wounded, visited the other hospitals. This work of distributing stores being over, he returned in a few days and poured the supplies on us, bringing almost everything that could be wished for or needed-socks, shoes, drawers, handkerchiefs, towels, jellies, wines, vegetables, fruit, bread, butter, etc.-so that our hospital was abundantly supplied, and this was continued for some six days. I understand other regiments fared the same. The men in camp would say, "he knows what is needed, he has been in the army." The soldiers from other States would say wishfully, "why don't our State treat its soldiers in that way?" There was but one other state (Wisconsin) whose agent came on with supplies. The agents of several states came on, but none passed through the hospital to obtain lists of the killed and wounded. Some who profess friendship for soldiers and an interest in their welfare say, "Well, I would give something for relief, but those stores get into the hands of officers, and are eaten up or used by them." Could such persons have witnessed the change from blood-clotted, filthy garments to clean and white, from "hard-tack" to fresh light bread, from salt pork to fresh mutton, could they have heard the expression of delight, and seen the countenances of the exhausted soldiers, no other argument would be necessary to bind them to the interest of our State Sanitary Commission. These supplies were all distributed by myself. I believe hundreds of lives were saved by the different relief associations. All of the wounded from Indiana who were able to be moved have been taken to Gettysburg. Those left behind are well cared for. After the railroad was opened the Sanitary and Christian Commissions brought in large supplies of stores. Our Indianians are doing well. The cases of amputation are doing remarkably well. Lieut-Colonel Dudley has had his leg amputated a second time and is now improving. The Iron Brigade is still in the front, ready to give the rebs. their accustomed warm reception. I will close, hoping that I have not occupied too much room in your paper. Yours, truly, Henry C. Marsh, Hospital Steward 19th Ind. This letter appeared in the Indianapolis Daily Journal on July 13, 1863 on page 2 column 1. The spelling and punctuation are unchanged from the original publication. The Losses of the 19th Indiana. Gettysburg, Penn., July 2, 1863. Editor Journal: Permit me to drop a word of information to the many friends of officers and men of the 19th Indiana Regiment, through your valuable paper. I could not exaggerate the bravery of the officers and men. They, without an exception yet known, were all found at their respective posts, and although led immediately into a murderous fire, without time to adjust their pieces, yet they stood up boldly and manfully. Colonel Williams was in the thickest of the fight from the commencement and could be seen, frequently in the advance of the regiment, making observations for the success and safety of his men. He very narrowly escaped twice, a ball passing through his hat and another struck his side, and was prevented, doubtless, from killing him by a pocket map which it struck, penetrating his coat and nearly through his map, lodging in the last fold. The Colonel has never taken the ball out of the map, but keeps it as it was. Lieut. Col. W. W. Dudley fell severely if not mortally wounded early in the day, while urging forward his men. Major John M. Lindley was severely wounded in the hand, the ball striking his hand and saber. While waving his saber over his head another ball struck him on the cheek, just grazing the skin. The Major, we hope will soon recover. Adjutant George W. Finney was slightly wounded. The Surgeon and First Assistant Surgeon are in the hands of the rebels. Fears are entertained that the Assistant Surgeon, Dr. A. B. Haines, has fallen, or is wounded. I will append to this a list of names of officers killed and wounded in the fight of the first day of July, 1863. Killed. Lieutenant R. Jones, Lieutenant C. G. East, and Serg. Major Blanchard. Wounded. Lieut. Col. W. W. Dudley, severely. Major John M. Lindley, severely. Adjutant G. W. Finney, slightly. Captain A. J. Makepiece, slightly. Captain J. T. Ives, slightly. Captain J. W. Shafer, slightly. Captain G. W. Green, slightly. First Lieut. Wm. H. Campbell, slightly. First Lieut. S. B. Schlagal, slightly. First Lieut. J. W. Witemyre, slightly. First Lieut. A. Gisse, slightly. Second Lieut. C. V. Patrick, slightly. Second Lieut. O. Branson, slightly. We went into the fight without about 300 men, all told, and came out with 69, all safe. Summary of Casualities. Officers Killed ..............2 Wounded..............13 Missing...............6 Privates Killed ...... .........20 Wounded............106 Missing..............67 ___ Total-killed, wounded and missing . 204 I am your most obedient servant, Thomas Barnett, Chaplain 19th Reg't Indiana Vols. 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