19 January 1862, Kentucky, War Between the
States
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Letters of Captain Francis Marion Aldridge, 15th Mississippi Infantry These letters are in the Francis Marion Aldridge Papers in the Mississippi State Archives in Jackson. They were transcribed in 1994 by Daniel Mercer and Geoff Walden, for the Mill Springs Battlefield Association. Notes (in italics) are by Geoff Walden.
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Millspring near Monticello Ky I have written to you several times expressing a hope that I would to [sic] visit you at home by the 13th of this month, but as the time has approached the prospect of my departure from camp has become more and more doubtful until it is now certain I shall not be able to accomplish my long cherished visit. We are encamped within one and a half miles of the enemy, so that no man can leave his post. This state of affairs cannot long exist and one army or the other will fall back to seperate [sic] for winter quarters. I speak of winter quarters with some degree of certainty because this climate is too cold for a winter campaign. We have already had two light snows, a portion of the latter yet remaining upon the ground. All I can now say is that it is my intention to go home so soon as I can with honor do so. On the day before yesterday we left here at 12 o'clock at night and marched up the river ten miles to a [page 2] a [sic] point opposite Camp Goggin by day, where the enemy and their encampment was in full view across the river. In a short time our cannon was planted in three seperate [sic] places, with a sufficient body of infantry near each to protect them. I had the command of the companies protecting one of the guns by the appointment of Col Statham [William S. Statham, commanding the 15th Miss. Inf.]. Indeed they needed no protection as the river performed the office of protecting us. In a few minutes the cannonading commenced but it was too late to be effective as the enemy had already commenced striking their tents. We knocked over some of them remaining and they abandoned others. No person on our side was hurt, and I doubt whether any person was injured on the side of the enemy. They succeeded in throwing some of their shell disagreeably near, but were soon silenced by our guns. I left my company over the brow of the hill and went forward to see the effect of our cannon or I should have been in no danger, and when the shell fell around having no especial business at that point, and not being able to do any service thereby I beat a retreat. The enemy only fell back out of the range of our cannon and have taken a position down the river [page 3] near to us. Before we arrived here they had destroyed all the boats, so that there is no communication between the two sections of country divided by the river. I have no news to write to you, as we are cut off from all communication, except as we can obtain letters by courier from Knoxville - a trip made in four days. If you have written to me to care of Col __ [?] at Knoxville it seems to me I ought to have before this time in that way received a letter from you. My last letters up to this date were mailed to other places. You cannot well imagine how desirous I am of returning home to see you and our dear children and other friends, and my next greatest desire is to receive a letter from you. If I am disappointed for a time in the former, why should I be in the latter? Your last letter received by me was written just after the visit from our parents and yet it seems an age. Moore [sic] than six months time of my service has expired, and it appears to me years since the night we left Coffeeville. So many events have been rapidly crowded together, doubtless gives this apparent long time. When I often receive your letters I am quite content. Indeed my life is too active for much reflection, but there are [page 4] but few or no hours of the day that I do not think of the dear ones at home. How happy we shall be when the independence of our country is established and peace restored in our domestic circle! I speak of our independence and these facts as a certainty and I think they are. So far we have ever been victorious and if right prevails so we shall ever be. I have been to day [sic] to Monticello to see Sam Millicunsen [?] and find him much improved. I went there for the prospect of visiting him and buying a trunk, my old one having worn out. Our place of encampment is a good one, and in a beautiful section of the country where the people are generally our friends ready to do anything to relieve our sick or render their condition comfortable. We did not move our encampment when we went up to Camp Goggin. The line ____ and our leaving many sick, our marches being long and very often made at the most unseasonable [might be unreasonable] hours. I believe I wrote to you that Crittenden [Maj.Gen. George B. Crittenden] would in a few days take command here - a change very much to be desired. Write to me my Dear often. Love to Obie [?] and the children. As ever yours FM Aldridge
*********************************************************** MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Mill Spring KY Dec 13th 61 My Dear Lizzie I received since I last wrote to you a letter enclosing one from Julia, and this morning one mailed at Coffeeville advising me that you had lost Edward and procured the services of Buck - a change agreeable both to you and myself. For several days we have been in camp, and time hangs heavily on me, as I have nothing to read, little to do - the work being superintended by Lieutenants. Since I last wrote to you we have crossed to the north side of the river and are busily engaged in erecting fortifications. Before our [page 2] boats were completed and our crossing effected the enemy had been reinforced so as to number 10,000 which greatly decreased our desire to see them. To recross was impossible. Did you know that it is almost impossible to move volunteers in retreat without a stampede. They are as ha_ ____ [?] so perhaps then regulars, but their officers have not that control of them. We commenced the work of fortification night and day, and in our position could resist almost any force that might be sent against us. The enemy not feeling secure in their numbers and fearing we would attack them also industriously commenced fortifying. Thus are we situated so that [page 3] neither party will attack, for it is quite certain that the attacking party would be repulsed with heavy loss. I have no idea with our inferior numbers, that we will attack them, and scarcely a hope that they will attack us. Our pickets are near each other and this way occasional skirmishes will occur probably without any general engagement each party endeavoring to lead the other by retreats up to their entrenchments. Major Brantly [Maj. William F. Brantly, 15th Miss. Inf.] operating in command of cavalry had a skirmish in which he killed nine men + took 15 prisoners. He only lost one man who was drowned in crossing the river after the engagement. It is not improbable we are here [page 4] for the winter. Only two contingencies would remove us. If the enemy cross the river and get in our rear and cut off our supplies we will be compeled [sic] to force our way down the river to make a junction with Hardee, or if Hardee attacks Columbia and is successful and then joins us we will probably attack the enemy in their fortifications, as we will then have a superior force. The forces near us are rapidly shifting from the camp near us to Columbia as they deem the danger more imminent at that place. To day [sic] a [sic] yesterday they were here, and if Hardee could know the fact, he could attack [page 5] Columbia with success. The force near us is the same as was at wild Cat [a battle on 21 October 1861, in which the Confederates under Gen. Zollicoffer were repulsed in an attack on an entrenched Federal force under Gen. Schoepf, in the Rockcastle Hills near London, KY]. Some disaffection is among them, the Ohioans censuring the laggardness of Kentuckians in fighting, and expressing their unwillingness to fight for them unless they fight for themselves. The Kentuckians are said to have fled at wild Cat [sic]. The truth is, that the Kentuckians in Lincolns army are a class - a set of lazy idlers at home - hog [?] thieves - induced to join the army by $13.00 pay in advance, when most of the wealth and intelligence is for the Confederate States. Our friends act timidly for the most part, for their families and property are within Lincolns lines. If we profess [?] [page 6] we afford them protection, and will doubtless have their aid. We sometimes receive some public news from Mississippi. We heard with pain and mortification of the defeat of Brooke [Walker Brooke, Mississippi delegate to first Confederate Convention, February 1861] by Phelan [James Phelan, Mississippi Senator in first Confederate Congress, 1861-63] for the Senate. My heart sank within me, Brooke a man of _________ patriotism and experience, was slaughtered for a new man, a man whose public duties and age did not keep him at home, and why? Because Brooke had been a Whig [emphasis in original] but had acted nobly as every man conceded. If ostracism and the corruption of the government exhibits itself even in revolution, what are we to hope for in the future? "Had been a Whig"!! Who in the army [page 7] have men promptly responded to their countrys necessity? Is friendship and brotherhood not to be created by a war that renders life valuable or desirable? I see many men depressed as myself by this event. I have no personal feeling, but Brooke as I know acted nobly and ought not to have been slaughtered. Had I been in the Legislature Brown [Albert G. Brown, former Mississippi governor and Confederate Senator, 1861-65] and Brooke would have received my ardent and cordial support, and would have felt ashamed of myself had I felt a momentary estrangement to Brown because he was a democrat. Upon this feeling I had as soon war as upon Lincolnism and risk all, when Lincolnism is defeated [emphasis in original]. But away with this. [page 8] No person has written to me of Mr. Clemens. How is he? Does the trouble of war furrough [sic] his benignant [?] face with additional wrinkles? There is no severity of provisions in this country but will be if long we remain in this place. Land is high, but I could to day [sic] buy the best negro man in this country for five or six hundred dollars, that is if I had the money. You speak of money to pay taxes. I sent you an order drawn by Capt Gage [Capt. John G. Gage, Co. G, 15th Miss.] for $350.00 I believe which will be paid upon presentation. This I placed with you to supply your necessities. The government is now due me for nearly four months service. You refer to the expense of bringing to you this [the word looks like "man," but must be "mare"] I desired you should have. I injured her in marches, and scouts and traded [The copy of the letter ends here.]
****************************************************** MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Jamesboro [Jamestown] Tenn Jany 30th 1862 Dear Lizzie I have written you several hasty letters in a few days past, and at no time giving you any thing in detail, nor will now or perhaps ever attempt to do so. Our defeat in the Northern papers is styled Bull Run Jr. It was certainly bad enough, bad enough. From Mill Spring to Monticello ten or twelve miles the road was strewn with knapsacks and blankets sufficient to have carpeted the road. The loss in killed was not so heavy as supposed only 43 in [15th] Mississippi regiment which was by far the greatest suffered. Only one Tennessee regiment suffered comparatively any loss, Col Battles regiment [20th Tenn. Inf.]. The killed in this regiment was 36. The whole number killed would be covered by 100. Many wounded were taken prisoners, who will probably recover. A few days since a flag of truce was sent for Gen Zollicoffers body, and by this some information was obtained. They replied in a very handsome note saying that Gen Zollicoffers body had already been sent to Nashville via Louisville. Information was obtained that our wounded were well cared for in hospitals in Somerset - every thing being offered which medical skill and the great facalities [facilities] of the Federal Army and supply. They make much sport of our defeat. They will release 8 prisoners in parole so soon as they are able to travel. I was in hopes to hear of Nelson whose fate seems to be doubtful, or rather it is certain when last seen he was not mortally [page 2] wounded. It is quite certain known from the conciliatory bearing of the Federal army, prisoners will be permited [sic] to write and letters passed by a flag of truce. I believe I wrote to you I had lost everything. Every thing is in such a state of confusion. I fear that any articles sent me will [?] be lost. When order is restored I may draft upon you, unless in the mean time I conclude to return home at so early a date as to render it unnecessary. Brantley's [Maj. William F. Brantly, 15th Miss. Inf.] boy went on and joined the Federals in the service of an Indiana Captain, who sent Brantley word that when the war was over he would leave his negro in Kentucky or some other place. A Lt Col who took Walthalls [Lt.Col. Edward C. Walthall, 15th Miss. Inf., who commanded the regiment during the battle] great coat sent him word when the war was closed he would send him a new one. A few stragglers went to Monticello and gave a $50 Confederate bill for few drinks of whiskey by way of illustrating their little appreciation of the value of our Government money. Many of our men left money in their trunks. Fortunately I left none of your letters or Sues, but your miniature and that of our children were in my trunk, now Yankee property. Our flag was the flag of the regiment. Three or four flag bearers were shot and it was finally lost. [The battle flag of Co. H, the "Yalobusha Rifles," which was recorded as captured by Corp. Albert Issen of Co. G, 2nd Minnesota Infantry, is now in the collections of the Mississippi State Museum in Jackson.] The truth is with the Tennessee regiments acted with great cowardice. The great mistake of the matter was our armys position on the north side of the river. There we were entrapped. Our forces were out to cut off what they supposed was two or three regiments, and instead of its being three it was twenty [page 3] who were in ambush waiting for us. One unfortunate circumstance is that Gen Zollicoffers private correspondence was captured. In it were letters from many prominent citizens implicating them in what they term the rebellion. Finnie [?] is quite puny and I think I shall start him home tomorrow if the physician will give the necessary certificate. If so he will reach home three or four days after this letter. He has not been very well for some time past. I met an acquaintance a few days since who told me that he had sent me a few bushels of grass seed similar to those already sown. If so they are at Grinada [Grenada]. If necessary have them sown a portion of them in the turnip patch in the oat field and the residue in the lot where the others are sowed. I sew some in turnip patch so as not to leave seeds in the unit we are unfortunate with these in the grass lot. My mare was saved in the stampede being at Monticello ten miles this side of the camp. She was however unlike herself for want of food, and because of hard marches. Write to me at Nashville where I shall be able to have them forwarded to me. Love to children + all As ever yours F.M. Aldridge
************************************************** COMMENTS ... Capt. Aldridge's opinion regarding the cowardice of the Tennesseans was a common feeling among the soldiers of the 15th Mississippi, who considered that they, along with only the 20th Tennessee, fought the battle almost on their own. Although the Tennessee regiments on the left did break first, opening the flank of the 15th Mississippi, many of the Mississippians seemed to be unaware of the actions taking place to their left and rear, to hold their line of retreat open, conducted by Carroll's Tennessee and Alabama units. In common with other Mississippians, Aldridge also failed to take into account the failure of the Tennesseans' flintlock muskets to fire in the rain (the 15th Mississippi being armed with percussion muskets and rifles). Aldridge also shared another common Confederate belief, that they were advancing to cut off a small Federal force of only two or three regiments. The size of the Federal force at Logan's Crossroads seemed to surprise all the Southerners. --- Geoff Walden
Battle Flag of the "Yalobusha
Rifles"
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