46th PA Volunteer Regiment Soldier Holds Wounded Man's Head On Battlefield
The 46th PA Volunteer Regiment was in a number of major battles including Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Cedar Mountain, New Hope Church, Peachtree Creek, Kolb's Farm and Bentonville. Our writer who identifies himself only as Charles writes a poignant letter to his wife, noting how much she misses him but feeling as though he has a spiritual mission to serve his country. In one instance, he speaks of holding the head of a wounded man while he lay on the battlefield as a surgeon dressed his wound. He speaks of another soldier a dying man who called for a chaplain but none could be obtained. 6 ½ pp, 9 ¾ x 7 7/8, Washington, March 27, 1862, Charles writes to his wife:...
By intercepting it here, I have obtained it probably 5 days... If it had reached the regiment.. I would not be absent from you if it were not the call of duty....
I cannot promise you when I can leave the service and return home. The army is just beginning to move into the heart of the rebellion... If ever the men needed a faithful, devoted [following], it is when they are in the work of facing... When they are dying on all the bleeding of the battlefield. I lately had the privilege of supporting the head of a wounded man while he lay on the grass on the battlefield while the surgeon dressed his wound...
I could hear the guns a little distance from us but the pleasure of being in my place and doing my duty and of being ready to administer the consolations of God's work to such a dying was greater to me then the fear of danger and death. At the Battle of Drainswell, [difficult to decipher this word] a dying man called for a Chaplain but none could be obtained.
Now would you have me leave the service and thereby deprive perhaps some poor soul of the last word of instruction that might point him to the savior? I shall receive pay from the state of Pennsylvania... I have just been to Harrisburg and seen about it.
A law had passed both houses of the Legislature providing for my claim with others and when I was in Harrisburg it was in the hands of the governor awaiting his signature to make it a law. He, however, had objections to it and would not sign it. His objections, however, were not against the part of the bill providing for paying just claimants like myself but against other causes which do not affect our claims...
The members of the legislature to... I left Winchester last Sunday closing the term of the battle... I have been previously ordered to Harrisburg and Washington on business... The regiment was not in the fight... The battle resulted in a complete victory on our side. [There will be] particulars in the papers. I shall start an hour from now to return to Winchester...Please write to me after direct to Washington, D. From your Love (in haste) Charles. The writer's hand writing is difficult to decipher at time.
Still a nice letter from a soldier of an important Pennsylvania regiment. Our goal is to please every customer.