#7

October 14, 1862

Corinth, Miss.

 

Dear Mother:

                        I yesterday wrote just a word informing you of my safety, and to-day I will try and give you an account of some of my adventures during the past few days. Oct. 3^d we left the Tuscumbia river where we encamped and marched into Corinth, a distance of five miles. We heard heavy cannonading on the way. We were shifted around part of the time and part of the time we lay still in the woods, until towards night when we were moved up and took position in line of battle near the firing. We were soon however ordered to fall back in to Corinth behind the breastworks. During the night we were posted in the rear of one of the batteries, and we lay down to snatch what sleep we could preparatory to the morrow's fight. Previous to this time we had thrown our knapsacks containing our blankets together in a pile, preparatory to making a charge, but I had the presence of mind to retain my gum blanket so that stretching myself on a log and covering myself with my blanket I managed to sleep quite comfortably, although the night was cool. In the morning about 3½ o'clock a volley of musketry in the woods near awoke me. I had scarcely aroused before a shell came whizzing over my head soon followed by others, thick and fast. We immediately fell flat to the ground, and lay in that position about 20 minutes, while / the shells flew over and around us, accompanied with grape shot. We lay behind a little embankment and were thus protected considerably, so that not one of our company, but a number in the regiment were wounded. Soon however the rebel battery was silenced, and it was captured and brought in by the 63^d Regiment, who were out on picket. This was the first time I had ever heard the whizzing of shell, but I never shall forget it. It has a very peculiar mournful sound that is well fitted to inspire terror. I was in great danger but the good Providence of God protected me. We lay in our position awaiting an attack until about 9 o'clock, our big seige guns occasionally booming belching forth shot and shell into the woods feeling for the enemy. About 9 the enemy made their anticipated advance. Soon again the bullets flew thick around us and the enemy came forward at a charge. We were just in the rear of a battery of big guns, or more properly a fort. A short distance to the left of us was another fort, on a line a little to the rear of the one in front of us. About ¾ of a mile to our right was still another fort. We lay on a little elevation of ground so that from our position we had a view of the battle field for the distance of about a mile. Let me see if I can give you an idea of our position.

 

[diagram]                    Corinth            39^th                              a-battery to our left

                        c          open field                    a                      b-   "   in front

                        woods                          b                                  c-   "   to our right

 

The enemy advanced along the whole length of this line simultaneously. You will observe from the position of batteries a and c that there can be a cross fire from them along the length of the whole line. In fact I should have said that they have guns at the side as well as in front. The cross fire from / a was directly over our heads, and as it was necessary to fire quite low in consequence of the short range, we were in nearly as great danger from our own guns as from those of the enemy. In fact I think that some of our own shell passed nearer to me than those of the enemy. The grape canister, and shell from our guns mowed down the advancing enemy like grass but on still they came, driving back our line on the right, until finally they obtained possession of battery c and were in the very edge of town. Soon however our men rallied, and the enemy was driven back in confusion. The battery was again gained, and the grape and canister pla flew with redoubled rigor, making fearful havoc in the retreating disordered ranks of the now running enemy. Thus much about the left right. Now let me tell you about the battle in our front. The enemy came on charging gallantly notwithstanding the fearful leaden roil belched forth into their ranks from our big guns. For a short distance our line was broken and part of the 63^d being outflanked retreated in confusion. The enemy was at the very mouth of the batteries, and some even climbed up the sides. It was a critical juncture. Should they break our lines here the day was probably lost. The 39^th was ordered to advance to the front double quick, and forward we went with fixed bayonets and loud cheers. The enemy heard our cheers, saw they had a new line to fight, and discouraged by their great decimation heretofore broke and retreated in confusion. The 39^th had not an opportunity to fire a gun, but our victory in no small part was due to our regiment as our General himself acknowledges. The other three regiments of our brigade were all in the fight and lost a good many men. The 63^d which was very small before now numbers but about 125 men, they having lost a good many in the fight. We remained in our position expecting that the enemy would make another attempt, but their defeat was too decisive to attempt another trial. Thus ended the part that I witnessed of the battle of Corinth. I had thought that I knew something of a battle from the fight of Iuka, but the incessant roar of the big guns, the screaming of the shell, the hiss of the grape and canister, the sight of the two lines standing up and pouring into each other, the deadly musketry, the sight of the dead and wounded laying immediately around / me—these were new sights to me. I feel that I have reason of great thankfulness to God for his protecting care over me in the midst of such danger. In fact I feel that His goodness towards me has been especially great since I have entered the army, in that He has spared my health and life midst great dangers; in that He has granted to me much of the comforting and sustaining influences of His Holy Spirit. I have enjoyed moments of sweet peace in reflecting that I was in His hands, and that if I should be struck down it would be but the sooner entrance to a heavenly rest. I feel entire willingness to die should it be His will, although when I think of you at home I hope that my life may be spared to see you again.

 

            I will now give you a little account of the scene of the battle field. A person may read the accounts given of battle fields, and they may think they have some appreciation of its horrors, but in order to realize them in the inmost soul they must be seen. The sight of the dead strewed around, many of them mangled horribly, the groans and cries for assistance of the wounded, are heart rending. The expression of different countenances varies greatly. I saw one dead rebel whose leg had been shot off who was laying with his hands folded under his head and with as calm, peaceful expression of countenance as I have ever seen. Others are greatly distorted, from the pain which they suffer. Some have been shot in the act of loading, others while taking aim. Some have twisted themselves into distortion of limbs in their pain; some have crawled to the support of some friendly stump and leaning against it have died. I have told you of the fearful havoc of our grape and canister. In the ditch directly in front of the battery which we lay behind 40 rebels lay dead, one piled above the other, whilst the woods in front of us was strewn thick with their dead and wounded. But the most horrible sight that I have witnessed I have yet to tell of. The next morning our company was put out on picket on the field where had been the fight of the day in which we entered Corinth. The dead had not been buried as the ground had been occupied by the rebels, and during part of Friday / and the whole of Saturday (which by the way were two very warm days) they had lain exposed. Around a house lay a number of men, with countenances swollen and putrified till they were utterly beyond recognition. I entered the house, but the stench was so intolerable that I could stay but a moment. Everything was turned upside down. Three or four wounded men had crawled upon the beds and there died. A number lay dead on the floor. I never desire to witness another such scene. The memory of it will never be effaced from my mind as long as I live. The horrors of war! We philosophize about it, we talk, but we need to see it to feel in our inmost soul a dread and abhorrence of it.

 

            Our victory here has been a complete one. The enemy although strongly outnumbering us was repulsed with fearful loss, and such has / been the demoralizing effect upon the rebel army that they must be utterly disheartened. Their loss in killed wounded, prisoners and stragglers cannot be less than about 10,000. I hope that it may do much towards ending the war. I long for it to be over, so that I may return home. I will have learned to value home as I never have before. And yet I do not wish to return until peace is restored.

 

            My gum blanket, as I wrote to Jerusha is lost. It came as far as Corinth but farther than that I know nothing of it. Mr. Langley had no way of bringing the box in which it was any farther and at that time I was 20 miles from Corinth. I paid $1.50 for a gum blanket, and I have no money left. I do not expect to get any pay for two months yet. I dislike to send home for money, but if you could send me a dollar or two without too much inconvenience, I should like it very much. Sometimes I have an opportunity to purchase little things such as apples and potatoes, etc. /

 

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and a little money is almost indispensable. I expect we shall probably be in Corinth a couple of weeks so that if you write immediately I shall get it. I received a letter from Hiram last night which I shall answer to-day or to-morrow, and give an account of my adventures in pursuit of Price.

                                                                                                           

Write soon

Your son

Geo. R. Gear

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