Civil War Letters: Indiana

The Finest Description of a Civil War Execution that we have read – Letter by James C. Stuart of the 7th Indiana Infantry Witnessing the Execution of a Poor Man in the 19th Indiana “Iron Brigade” for Cowardice – “I HAVE STOOD WHERE BULLETS FLEW THICK & FAST & SEEN MEN LITERALLY TORN TO PIECES, BUT I NEVER FELT AS I DID WHEN THIS POOR MAN WAS MURDERED, FOR I CAN CALL IT NOTHING ELSE.”

20th Indiana Infantry – A Hard Fought Regiment Reaches its Final Goal at Appomattox Court House – Letter by David R. Cottrell – “THE SURRENDER WAS MADE APRIL 9TH, AND I DON’T THINK THAT DAY WILL EVER BE FORGOTTEN BY THOSE THAT WERE PRESENT. IT APPEARED TO ME THAT EVERY MAN IN THE ARMY HAD GONE WILD.”



101^st IN. Inf. – John H. Gray Writes His Little Sister On Christmas 1863 About God’s Great Mercies – Read His Touching Comments

A Great “Diary Type” Item from the 101st Indiana Infantry – John H. Gray Writes a 36 Page Summary of his War Experiences from August 1861 through September 1863 – “STILL THEY POURED THEIR SHELL INTO US BURSTING ON EVERY SIDE.” – “WE DROVE OUR CARRIAGES OVER THE DEAD AND DYING AS IT WAS TOO HOT TO TURN ASIDE FOR THEM.” NOTE: John Gray’s descriptions are so detailed about camp life that this material could (and should) be used in a magazine article or be included in a regimental history… it’s that good!