Head Quarters 2^nd Confed Regt

Corinth Miss Apr 15^th 1862

 

My Dear Mother,

                                    In my last letter to Pa I gave you as detailed an account of the late battle as I could & now finding myself at leisure for a few moments I take the opportunity to write. I have had no rest since the battle. Nearly all the officers have gone away either wounded or sick. I have been acting Brigade & reg't adjutant both, which has kept me busy all day & till from 12 to 2 at night. Several times I felt as though I would have to give up the task but I have finally finished all but one days work.

 

The Army is being organized again as rapidly as possible (it need not be denied we were terribly crippled by the late fight.) & we will be in a condition to fight again in about one week. Sunday morning we won a glorious but dearly bought victory & sunday evening Genl Johnstons determination to press his columns forward to capture their / whole army cost him his life & as well as many other gallant soldiers. The incessant & terrific fire of the gunboats however, as well as the wearied condition of our troops & the approach of night prevented it. Remember that Genl Breckinridge's Division of which Genl Bower's Brigade is a part constituted the Reserve, had been marched 40 miles through mud & rain in 2 days, & were carried into action at 10 o'c'k A.M. thus you see the entire army was actively engaged almost from the start & at night fall we were scarcely able to put one foot before the other, thus preventing us from following up our victory The Reg't laid down about 10 PM in the enemys tents. But I was busy with the guard until 2 when I slept as well as could be expected with shells bursting occasionally over our heads Monday morning at sunrise we commenced fighting against fresh troops & continued so until late in the evening

 

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Sunday evening & [paper tear] day monday I shot at the enemy with one of his own guns & his own ammunition, as did nearly the whole army, all our boys swapped off their old flintlocks. I picked up several very fine swords but none of them having scabbards & wishing to shoot my gun I left them. I brought no trophy from the field except an Enfield rifle & accoutrements, an overcoat & two fine canteens. Joe is now dressed in a fine blue Yankee uniform. Maj Mangum mentions

 

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me in his regimental report of the battle & uncle John [paper tear] would have reported me had I not been a nephew Give my love to Pa & all at home & believe me as ever

                                                                                               

Yr afft Son

D G Donelson

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