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Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900

1863-06-14 Page 1

Floating Hospital Nashville June 14th/63
My Dear Wife,
I waited till I received a letter from you before I should write again. it came last night and found a willing reader I tell you. When I last wrote there was going on at Millikinsville (some five miles above here) one of the bloodiest fights of the war.  We had heard some firing on Saturday, on our side of the river and sounded very near.  It was the advance of the rebels meeting a part of the 23d Iowa (who were acting as scouts) out back of Millikinsville in the woods. They had a fight there and the 23rd lost 80 men. The rebels as many or more, but drove our men in; they fell back to the temporary fort at Millikinsville, where we had 2 regiments of Negroes, so called, though they were neither of them full. When those of the 23d who were left came in, they amounted in all, white and black to near 800 Infantry, and part of the 10th Ill. Cavalry. The negroes were conmanded, of course, by white officers.  They were told to wait till the rebels were within a few yards of them. They did, till they were not the width of our boat from their little earthwork (which was no more than a small Levee) and then fired, slaughtering the Rebels fearfully, and before they could load and fire again they (the rebels) were over the work among us.  It was then a hand to hand fight, and. it was fearful, with bayonets, butt of gun, clubs or anything to kill.  The negroes saw that the rebels killed all of them that they found wounded, and they did the same as far as they could. The rebels 3 times tried to hoist their flag in our works, and as often a negro would kill the man who tried it. The last one who tried it, the negroes noosed over the head with a rope while in the act, and when seen by some of us after the fight, had the rope yet around his neck and had been run through with a bayonet to boot. The negroes had dragged him outside their works by the rope. This flag was a black one with two cross bones, and a coffin above. Which sufficiently showed their intention.

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Floating Hospital Nashville June 14th/63 My Dear Wife, I waited till I received a letter from you before I should write again. it came last night and found a willing reader I tell you. When I last wrote there was going on at Millikinsville (some five miles above here) one of the bloodiest fights of the war. We had heard some firing on Saturday, on our side of the river and sounded very near. It was the advance of the rebels meeting a part of the 23d Iowa (who were acting as scouts) out back of Millikinsville in the woods. They had a fight there and the 23rd lost 80 men. The rebels as many or more, but drove our men in; they fell back to the temporary fort at Millikinsville, where we had 2 regiments of Negroes, so called, though they were neither of them full. When those of the 23d who were left came in, they amounted in all, white and black to near 800 Infantry, and part of the 10th Ill. Cavalry. The negroes were conmanded, of course, by white officers. They were told to wait till the rebels were within a few yards of them. They did, till they were not the width of our boat from their little earthwork (which was no more than a small Levee) and then fired, slaughtering the Rebels fearfully, and before they could load and fire again they (the rebels) were over the work among us. It was then a hand to hand fight, and. it was fearful, with bayonets, butt of gun, clubs or anything to kill. The negroes saw that the rebels killed all of them that they found wounded, and they did the same as far as they could. The rebels 3 times tried to hoist their flag in our works, and as often a negro would kill the man who tried it. The last one who tried it, the negroes noosed over the head with a rope while in the act, and when seen by some of us after the fight, had the rope yet around his neck and had been run through with a bayonet to boot. The negroes had dragged him outside their works by the rope. This flag was a black one with two cross bones, and a coffin above. Which sufficiently showed their intention.