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Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900

1863-06-14 Page 2

The 10th Ill cavalry run. Thus 800 (or more nearly 700) men, all but 125 of them black, whipped 1500 rebels with 3 pieces of artillery and well-armed, while a good many of the Negroes had that day got their guns for the first time, and many had none. This is not a mere  story, for a large share of it I saw myself, along with 5 more of us from the Hosp, who went up as soon as we heard the firing, and the rest has been authenticated by dozens of soldiers of the 23d Iowa who were in the fight. This shows how the  "d--n niggers." will fight. Gen. Grant says (so says Major Strawbridge, who heard him, while in a conversation with him,) that they have done the best fighting that has been done in this war, that no white regiment has had the nerve to Stand a bayonet charge, and hand to hand fight yet (by the order of officers) on either side. I have been thus explicit that it my be handed down to my children, that the despised "nigger" will fight, and to let my friends, and the infernal copperheads know that I glory in it. How I wish that I could match 300 copperheads with the same number of them this day, I'll bet on the "nigger." Well! The wounded were brought on our boat "niggers" and white  (as they had no Negro Hosp.) and one ward given up to the negroes under Drs. Patterson and Ormsby.  The rebels captured in the fight some 30 negroes, and we got 5 rebels alive,  We found rebels, negroes & white soldiers dead in quantity on the ground, 8 rebels and 5 negroes in one space not larger than your sitting room, of The rebels who got wounded inside the works not many got out. Those who were wounded outside they took away (most of them). I went down and helped Orange dress wounds, cut out balls, take off arms, fingers, etc. -- for all the world like a Dr. just because I wanted to. Some 9 have died and the major of the 11th La. ( a white man of course) died also. He was formerly a Capt. in the 23d Iowa "William Cotton" by name. I saw lots of bayonet wounds, they are ugly. one negro had 2 such wounds. one went in below the "Clavicle" or collar bone (as you know it) and went out through the shoulder blade, the other through the side of his neck. All sorts of wounds were to be seen They are now getting along finely and will all be removed to a Hospital of their own to-morrow. We are ordered to have

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The 10th Ill cavalry run. Thus 800 (or more nearly 700) men, all but 125 of them black, whipped 1500 rebels with 3 pieces of artillery and well-armed, while a good many of the Negroes had that day got their guns for the first time, and many had none. This is not a mere story, for a large share of it I saw myself, along with 5 more of us from the Hosp, who went up as soon as we heard the firing, and the rest has been authenticated by dozens of soldiers of the 23d Iowa who were in the fight. This shows how the "d--n niggers." will fight. Gen. Grant says (so says Major Strawbridge, who heard him, while in a conversation with him,) that they have done the best fighting that has been done in this war, that no white regiment has had the nerve to Stand a bayonet charge, and hand to hand fight yet (by the order of officers) on either side. I have been thus explicit that it my be handed down to my children, that the despised "nigger" will fight, and to let my friends, and the infernal copperheads know that I glory in it. How I wish that I could match 300 copperheads with the same number of them this day, I'll bet on the "nigger." Well! The wounded were brought on our boat "niggers" and white (as they had no Negro Hosp.) and one ward given up to the negroes under Drs. Patterson and Ormsby. The rebels captured in the fight some 30 negroes, and we got 5 rebels alive, We found rebels, negroes & white soldiers dead in quantity on the ground, 8 rebels and 5 negroes in one space not larger than your sitting room, of The rebels who got wounded inside the works not many got out. Those who were wounded outside they took away (most of them). I went down and helped Orange dress wounds, cut out balls, take off arms, fingers, etc. -- for all the world like a Dr. just because I wanted to. Some 9 have died and the major of the 11th La. ( a white man of course) died also. He was formerly a Capt. in the 23d Iowa "William Cotton" by name. I saw lots of bayonet wounds, they are ugly. one negro had 2 such wounds. one went in below the "Clavicle" or collar bone (as you know it) and went out through the shoulder blade, the other through the side of his neck. All sorts of wounds were to be seen They are now getting along finely and will all be removed to a Hospital of their own to-morrow. We are ordered to have