Inspired by Cerebel

[grinninfoole]

Cerebel posted recently about a letter she found hanging on the wall of her late grandmother's apartment, written by an ancestor who served in the Civil War, and that reminded me of a similar letter that's come down in my family from one of my ancestors on my mother's side, Victor Stirling.  The letter was written by his brother Hugh.

Dear Vic,                                                                                 Perryville July 12, 1864

            We are here.  I received your dispatch this morning but not knowing how long I would be here I did not reply.  We need nothing at present as it keeps us busy to take care of what we have.  I wrote the morning mail from the Gunpowder [River] on Monday but the Reb's got them.  The first intimations we had of their approach was the cutting of the telegraph lines above and below us about half past nine o'clock and immediately after our pickets were fired on.  We were not long in getting ready and soon the fleeing passengers, women and children, began to arrive from one of the captured trains which was set on fire, which was soon followed by a flag of truce purporting to come from Gen'l Johnson demanding our unconditional surrender, saying that he was in position above us with a heavy force of cavalry and artillery and would blow us all up if we did not; of course I declined the Gen'ls hospitality perhaps not in the courtliest of phrases, but I am certain that I used no sinful expressions as is attributed to me.

            We formed on the bridge and I will explain here my reason for leaving the encampment, which was a beautiful site for defense from the south, but not so good from the rear or north, and it was necessary to get out of range of the gunboat in the river if she was to cooperate with us, as from our position she would have killed as many of us as the Rebs had she fired.  We had not long to wait but the attack came in the shape of a train of cars in flames.  We retired into the draws and jumped into the cars and attempted to reach the engine to run them off again but it was too late and all we could do was to uncouple what cars were not on fire and run them off on the south side assisted by Lieut White of an Ohio Reg. and two of his men.  I am told that our missing men with the Ohio boys struck for Baltimore dist 18 miles--the Rebs contented themselves with pillaging our camp getting a few blankets etc.  We were told by passengers that when the flag returned with the answer that the passengers cheered and that their major [Gilmor] swore he would give us hell and immediately ordered out his sharp shooters, but God was with us and they did not.  I am in command of the post at Perryville but as you are aware I am "to be promoted"!  I will join the Regs on the other side of the river in a day or two, for the present direct Perryville dist.  Give my love to our father and mother.

                                                                                                            Your Bro

                                                                                                            Hu Stirling

 

            Please give Mr. Nevin's wife 35 dollars on my acct.      H.S.

I don't have the details to hand, but, flaming trains aside, this was a minor skirmish late in the war.  As far as I know, it was the only time Hu Stirling saw action in the war--he was commanding a small force of reserves, and he and his men were, I think, equipped with surplus muskets left over from the war of 1812.

None of my father's ancestors fought in the Civil War, though some did fight at Bunker Hill in 1775.  More recently, both my grandfathers served, though never fought, in World War 2, and my father was in the reserves at the end of the Korean war.  My uncle did two tours in Viet Nam, though he fortunately never had to participate in a fire fight.  Neither I nor any my relatives of my generation are serving now.  I don't know anyone serving now in Iraq.  A pity that I am exception, and not a rule.

Comments

[beckyzoole.livejournal.com]

My grandmother has a letter written by her grandfather during the Civil War. He writes about finding lost cattle wandering in the woods, and how happy he is that he captured a calf to take back to camp for their supper.

[mole-underfield.livejournal.com]

According, to Mom's late cousin from KY, Victor Stirling was in the service early in the Civil War, but was spared combat due to a freak accident. He was standing next to a pyramid of cannon balls when it collapsed and one of the projectiles landed on his feet. Though the injury he suffered was not life threatening, it was serious enough to get him medically discharged. Since he had not yet sired any children, his accident was a blessing in disguise, not just for him, but for all his decedents, including us.