Capt. Calvin R. Johnson to his wife Lucy
English · Civil War cursive · 4 Dec 1862 · Mississippi
As written
Abbeville Mississippi Dec 2d [?] 1862.
My Dear Loney [?]. Once more in the field, and on our way to perform
our part of the Great work, which, when completed, will let me
have the privilege of folding you in my arms once more, and
of again seeing our little ones.
We all expected the tallest kind of a
fight before we could cross the Tallahatchie River, now a couple
of miles in our rear. Because, at Holly Springs the "secesh"
cooly informed us, that we would "catch it" when we got there
and the story was apparently confirmed when we got out this
way about 6 miles from there, for our advance cavalry came
back with the report, that they had discovered 3 or 4 Regts
of Cavalry, (Rebel) who were disposed to be belligerent, a couple
of Batteries were moved up to the front, and we followed
the 14th being that day the advance Inft Regt. our Batteries
soon hushed up the Rebel Battery, and when I came in
sight. I could just see the "Butternuts" in the distance,
about a mile off. Our Regt & the 16th Wis. immediately ad-
vanced in line of Battle, & Skirmishers took the advance
of us. The result was, that within an hour we had
drove the rebels into the timber a mile and a half. then
stationed pickets close to theirs and camped comfortably.
Next morning (Sunday) a strong reconnoitering force was
sent out, which shelled and drove the Rebels seven miles
to the inside of their strong fortifications on the side of the
River next to us. notwithstanding they cannonaded all day
Translation · English
Abbeville, Mississippi, December 2nd [?], 1862.
My Dear Loney [?]. Once more in the field, and on our way to perform our part of the Great work, which, when completed, will let me have the privilege of folding you in my arms once more, and of again seeing our little ones.
We all expected the tallest kind of a fight before we could cross the Tallahatchie River, now a couple of miles in our rear. Because, at Holly Springs the "secesh" coolly informed us that we would "catch it" when we got there, and the story was apparently confirmed when we got out this way about 6 miles from there, for our advance cavalry came back with the report that they had discovered 3 or 4 regiments of cavalry (Rebel) who were disposed to be belligerent. A couple of batteries were moved up to the front, and we followed, the 14th being that day the advance infantry regiment. Our batteries soon hushed up the Rebel battery, and when I came in sight I could just see the "Butternuts" in the distance, about a mile off. Our regiment and the 16th Wisconsin immediately advanced in line of battle, and skirmishers took the advance of us. The result was that within an hour we had driven the rebels into the timber a mile and a half, then stationed pickets close to theirs and camped comfortably. Next morning (Sunday) a strong reconnoitering force was sent out, which shelled and drove the Rebels seven miles to the inside of their strong fortifications on the side of the river next to us. Notwithstanding, they cannonaded all day