OSHKOSH COURIER

August 2, 1861

Our Army Correspondence

Dear Father – I suppose you have heard of our defeat at Bull’s Run. We marched from where we were stationed, at two o’clock in the morning, where we commenced our battle. There are twelve guns in the Oshkosh Company, and about two hundred in the 2d regiment. That day will never be forgotten by any of us. We have about twenty prisoners. We marched about forty five miles on our retreat, without resting; you may know how hard it was for me, but I stood it very well, and am enjoying good health. We are now at Washington guarding the city; they expect an attack on the city, but there is no danger of that. I wonder sometimes how I got away without being killed, with the balls flying around me like hail; my escape was very close; my gun saved my life. The man that stood before me was shot through the body, and instantly killed, and the same ball hit my gun and broke the stock, and would have gone through me if my gun had nto been there. The man’s name who was shot was Barton, from Oshkosh. I saw men lying with their heads shot off, and others with arms off, &c. But such a sight I never want to see again, and hope I never will. I think the next time we go, we will scoop them out. I am glad I enlisted for three years; if I had not, I would do it now, I want the satisfaction of seeing the devils cleaned out. The most of our men that are gone, are taken prisoners. Some got away, but there are twelve gone yet. Stroud’s son is gone; he was not shot, but taken prisoner. Bugbee was shot in the hip, but is doing well at present. The fault of our not winning was the officers. They run first. Gen. McDowell is the only man that stood up to the mark. – Our Colonel does very well. But the Major was not on the battle ground at all. I would like to write more, but cannot get any more paper until I go to the city.