Dear Parents:

I expect ere this time you have heard of the great battle of Fishing Creek - undoubtedly it was one of the hardest battles that has ever been fought since the South seceded, for your humble servant was in it & can fully testify to the circumstances I am about to relate. Although we must acknowledge a defeat this time, at the same time the enemy will have to acknowledge honestly that it was a dear bought victory on their part. I will first tell you of our lost & wounded & then give you the details of the battle from the first to the last of it. [Out] of our mess three were in it. Henry, Smith & myself -- Smith is missing, either wounded or taken prisoner or was killed off by himself -- He was cut off from the Regt while taking a wounded man away & has not been heard of since. He was not hurt when seen last -- I think it most likely he was taken prisoner by the enemy's cavalry -- Henry was slightly wounded in the side though not enough to disable him, he is doing finely now & has been up with the regt. I was slightly wounded in the thigh, the ball just cut the skin about an inch long --

We took out some seven or eight regts, but only two were engaged in the fight: the 15th Miss & Col. Battles from Nashville were the two engaged -- We went out with the intention of attacking three regts, that were on this side of the creek & could not cross, so we expected to go up & bag them at once, but when we came up we met with 25,000 men. Our regt was on the right & consequently was the first to make the attack, we fought under a heavy fire about an hour before any others came to our assistance then Battles regt came & relieved us a few minutes -- but I am most too fast, on Saturday night of the 18th we got orders for to cook two days rations & to leave that night at 12 o'clock for Fishing Creek. At 12 o'clock exactly the drums called us on the color line & every one ready for the tramp, it being just as muddy as it well could be. Our men had been fooled so often that not more than half of them went out. We took out 445 men & lost 217, near about half -- so you see the Mississippians sustained that character which has always characterized them --

On Sunday morning the 19th of Jan 1862 a little after daylight we came up to their pickets & drove them in & went on about half mile & formed a line of battle (our regt being the only one in sight) & drove the enemy from a high hill they occupied, we then charged down that hill & fired on them on the next, there we sustained a considerable loss. We then charged up on the hill they were occupying -- then fought over their dead bodies, here we did our hardest fighting. The enemy then got out in the timber & fired on us heavily [then] in the open field there we fell almost a man to the minute for we were nearly surrounded -- the main army being on our right & a regt armed with Colts revolving rifles just in front. About that time the battle was wavering our regt had made 6 charges & occupied their position three times just then two Tenn regts gave way & run & let the enemy flank us on the left, so they were cross firing on us from three directions, we held them at bay until a little after ten & then retreated being the only regt left on the field, we got back to camp & crossed the river that night & retreated to this point -- the enemy followed us to the river. We had just time enough to cross the river -- Capt Bankhead was killed on the field. Also Gen Zollicoffer, Maj. Fogg three Lieuts were killed from our regt & others with some captains were wounded -- Our company took 56 men to the field & 32 were killed, wounded & missing -- It was the most awful slaughter I ever witnessed in my life.

I picked up a minie rifle that was lying by a dead man on the field & carried it a piece, but was too much exhausted -- threw it away -- I had not got well of the mumps at the time, but went out -- it was raining nearly all the time. Gerry was sick at the time, but has got well. Dr. McCorkle was also sick, but is convalescent -- Tom & Joe Avent came out safe also Ben Hervey -- [Tob] Hale in that mess was wounded in the arm -- [Vol] Pearson was killed. I reckon they are the only ones you know --

Did you get my letter written about the 12th? I wrote to John Anderson about the 16th. I think we will recruit up here & try [these] same fellows again. The Mississippians are down on the Tenn for running -- leaving them so exposed. We were the first on the field & the last to leave it, Some of our men that was taken prisoners & escaped says thirty Six flags came within our encampments, the next morning, making some 36,000 near 40 regts -- Our side lost 4 or 5 hundred, they lost about 13 hundred -- I am pretty certain I lifted some of them out their boots for we were in twenty five yards of them at the last charge. In fact our men shot well & were much opposed to the retreat. Jim was in 50 miles of us during the fight. As he wants to write home I will close -- we had to throw away a great deal of our clothing -- we were just about good fixed for winter quarters I had just written a letter to Tubby the day before & left it in my cabin, in which I said I did not believe the Yankees would fight if they had a chance, but I will retract. They will have many a laugh over it -- it is said Gen Floyd will meet us on the way back with reinforcements. (Henry is well & hearty, says he dont want to go home until I do)

Give love to Sis & all enquiring friends

[Write soon to] Your Son

Charlie

*******************************************

Gainsboro Tenn
Jan 28th/62

Dear Mother

As Charlie is going to write home I thought I would drop you a few lines. I have been doing tolerably well ever since I left. We came up to this place on the boat, and hearing that the Yankees, 3000 strong were posted [on both sides of the River at Burksville with] several pieces of [artillery], we stopped [hired a wagon] (ten of us) & started afoot. We got in [10 miles] of Monticello when we heard of the battle [& some] of the soldiers coming back. We [turned around] and came back just before the Regt, [got with] the boys yesterday. It was [only through] God's Providence that [our squad] escaped being taken prisoners. We [passed] right through a company of Yankees on [poplar ] [mountain]. There were ten of us in the [squad] all unarmed. They were concealed in the [bushes], when we passed. it took some 5 or 6 prisoners who were coming directly behind us, not more than 15 minutes after we passed.

Charlie has written about the battle so I will close, [suffice it to say that] the 15th Miss Regt [has immortalized itself]. They fought singlehanded 36,000 Yankees for 3 hours 15 min -- 217 killed wounded & missing. Every man in the Regt has his clothes cut by the bullets, some of their coats & hats shot all to pieces. Capt. Bankhead killed 4 Yankees before they took him. Capt. Collins of Quitman Rifles had 25 bullets shot through his clothes & did not touch his flesh. The boys are all safe except S. B. who is missing. Henry B. slightly wounded ball just glanced. He is almost well.

I must close. good Bye

Your affectionate son,

James

NOTES by Gay Carter:

At the time this letter was written, Charlie has just turned 25.
Charlie's letter is written in ink; James's letter is written in pencil (much faded and the paper is stained).  I have typed the letters as written, keeping the original spelling, grammar, etc. In only a (very) few instances, for clarity and when I was sure of the intent, I have added a period to end a sentence and have capitalized the next word beginning the next sentence. (Charlie seems to have relied on a dash more often than a period to end his sentences.) All square brackets ([ ]) are mine; I have used them to enclose words I had trouble reading (and used my "best guess" on) or to indicate a missing word that I could not decipher.

People mentioned in Charlie's letter:

Henry = most likely Henry Clay BUFORD (age 20); note that Charlie lists H. C. BUFORD on his roster; according to one source, Henry Clay BUFORD was in Co. G., 15th Miss. Inf.; he was a cousin to Goodloe Warren BUFORD, Jr. (see below)

Smith = Dr. Smith BUFORD (age 23); he did survive the Battle of Fishing Creek and is with the regiment later; he is also a cousin of Goodloe Warren BUFORD, Jr.

Col. Battle's regt = 20th Tennessee Infantry

Gerry = ? haven't identified

Tob Hale = evidently Talbert B. HALE

Vol Pearson = Richard V. PEARSON (?)

Jim = James G. FRIERSON (age 25), Charlie's first cousin

Tubby = Goodloe Warren BUFORD, Jr. (age 25), Charlie's first cousin; he was in the "Lamar Rifles," Co. G., 11th Miss. Inf.

Sis = Sarah Dixie FRIERSON (age 19), Charlie's sister (my great-grandmother)

by Gay E. Carter

 Charles Currin Frierson was born January 7, 1838, in Maury County, Tennessee. He was the sixth child of Edward Livingston Frierson and Sarah Eliza Stephenson. The Friersons were one of several South Carolina families who established the Zion Presbyterian Church and community in Maury County. Edward Livingston Frierson moved his family to Lafayette County, Mississippi, when Charles was about 4 years old. Along with other families from Maury County, they settled at College Hill and started the Presbyterian church there. As a young man, Charles attended the University of Mississippi. Although he did not graduate, he was a member of the class of 1858. By 1860, Charles and his sister, Sarah, were the only two living children out of eight children in the family.

With the advent of the Civil War, Charles joined the Water Valley Rifles, Co. F, 15th Mississippi Infantry Volunteers. He was mustered into service in May 1861. His company participated in many battles and skirmishes, including Fishing Creek (Mill Springs), Kentucky; Port Hudson, Louisiana; Baker's Creek (Champion Hill), Mississippi; Resaca, Georgia, and the entire Georgia campaign; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; and Franklin, Tennessee. Charles Frierson distinguished himself in his regiment, rising from private to sergeant, and in September 1864, he was appointed 1st lieutenant and ensign. On November 30, 1864, Charles was severely wounded at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. However, he was not captured until December 17. He was eventually sent as a prisoner of war to Camp Chase, Ohio, and was transferred for exchange in March 1865. He was admitted to a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, still suffering from his wounds and was on furlough when the war ended.

Both of his parents died shortly after the war. By 1873, Charles and Sarah had moved to Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. In October 1873, Charles helped organize the Neriah Presbyterian Church and was installed as a ruling elder. On July 2, 1884, Charles married his cousin, Clotilda "Tillie" Grace (Frierson) Mitchener, a widow with two children. Sarah had married William Thomas Walter in 1882. Charles prospered as an established farmer and as part owner of the Frierson & Flautt General Store in Sumner. He was a well-respected citizen of Tallahatchie County and became a member of the Board of Levee Commissioners for the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta in March 1896.