2nd Lt. Joseph H. Fendley's Letter

Letter taken from Mobile Press Register, Mobile, AL,
January 21, 1951.

“Dear Father and Mother Sisters and Brothers, I seat myself to pen you a few lines. Thanks be to God I am still on the land of the living, and well, and I hope this will soon go safe to you and find you well. O Pop you have no idea what feelings I have had and have now, and what distress and suffering is here! Pop, we went into the fight last Saturday, and I was hit in the right wrist, and one ball cut thru my coat and shirt and on my left shoulder, but thank God it was a slight wound. I was sent back to the rear and I have been here ever since. I would have gone back to my company, but I have to wait on the rest of the boys. I tell you our brigade was cut up the worst. Capt. Welch was killed dead on the field and Capt. Kirk and Sam Packer in my company. W. I. Morgan got his leg broke, his right leg. William Steed was shot thru the shoulder and in the lungs on Saturday. The poor fellow died on Tuesday. One man named Sampkins died in our company. He was shot thru the head. Little Rick was shot thru the shoulder and had one of his legs cut off; he is now very bad off, I reckon he is dead. I have heard two or three ways about him. He was wounded sure. William Brown got his arm broke. Bob Davis, Tom Northrup, Sylvester Sheffield, Lamar Tyler, Charles Wiggins, P. D. Foxworth, Lt. Lockettt Graham, all of our company were wounded. William Heirs was wounded; he is missing. Major DeWatt was killed dead. They cut us all to pieces. John W. Morgan, Daniel McGlibery, Perry Kelly, Tom Champion and some few others were not hurt. John M. nor William Flimboroght were not in the fight, but after all our men have run the Yanks, and I hear they are crossing the river in bad order, but our men are pushing them close. Pop, I have no idea how many were killed on either side, but there was a heap of them. We have taken a heap of prisoners; they say they will whip us yet. Pop, I will have to close for want of time. Pop, tell Wet Criswell’s wife that he came out safe in the fight, but he is here with me sick, that he is not dangerous. Pop, I have not heard from home since the first of Sept.I do wish that I could hear from you all and I hope the Lord will spare me to get home again. I have not written half that I want to. You must pray for me and us boys and for peace. May God hear all our prayers. My respects to all my friends and my love to you all. Howdy to you all. “Oh God take us all in thy care and protect us from all harm and danger! O my heart is full. O God help us I pray! Farewell for this time.”

Sept. 24, 1863
Joseph H. Fendley
Hospital Camp near Ringgold, Ga.

(Note some of the names mentioned as being killed or wounded are not confirmed in the compiled service records. This must have been a very confusing time for the men and rumors would have been rampant.)