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| Official newsletter of the 14th Tennessee Co. B Volunteers | ||||
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| Official newsletter of the 14th Tennessee Co. B Volunteers | ||||
Headquarters near Richmond, Virginia
Lt. Col. M. Gilmore Chief of Staff
Gasperson's Brigade Army of Northern Virginia
Dear Sir.
On the morning of the 12th day of July, I was given orders to march my company along with the rest of the brigade to a little community to the east of Richmond by the coast called Duncan Mills.
The March took up most of the day as the long column was taking its time. Due to the large amounts of men marching along the road it was impossible to get up a head of steam, as it was stop and go the whole way. There were a couple of times when the men were marching to close and they would bump into each other and have to pull to the side and check for damages on themselves and that would slow the column up even more. The brigade was marching so slow that one stretch between the town of Petaluma, just southeast of Richmond, and the town of Santa Rosa, just a stones throw from each other, took the Brigade almost two hours.
The road did get a little better on the other side of Santa Rosa and all the problems that we were having with directing the Brigade were taken care of and we continued the march in much better time. As we were marching we came to a very friendly town called Guernville. The Towns people seem unusually kind to us as we were marching through. Several workers at a business in particular, a place called the Rainbow Cattle Company were especially glad to see us. As we marched by they were in awe of us and said that they loved to see men in uniform. I think we picked up the spirits of the local folk. Although I did not see any cattle nor did I see any area to store cattle, I figured they must be near by.
As night was falling the Brigade came to rest just outside the town of Duncan Mills in a clearing in the hills. I was given orders to personally check out reports of Yankee's in the area. Pvt. Darren Baham and myself took off to check out these reports. As we were checking things out we came across a small tavern and went inside to ask if they had seen any Yankee's in the area. They said they had, but they had come through about an hour before us and that they were camped not to far from we were camped for the night. The tavern owner was so glad to see us that he offered supper and beverages for us. After his fine hospitality, Pvt. Baham and I headed back to camp and report on the Yankee position.
In the Morning, after roll call, Major Bobby Lloyd Frazier formed the division and off we marched to the town of Duncan Mills. As we arrived in town we found that the Yankee's had left the town intact. The Telegraph and Railroad depot were still functional. As we waited for further orders from Brigade the Major rested the Division and the local town folk ever so happy to see us offered up coffee for the boys. After a brief rest the Division was formed and we marched back to camp. Pvt. Kermit Claytor was given orders to check a report of Yankee's in the area of Occidental and Sebastapol, two towns not far away. After returning to camp we were told that reinforcements had arrived over night. Colonel Gasperson after concurring with the new Brigade commander gave us orders to form brigade. It seemed that the Yankee's were just over a steep hill and they were forming for an attack. Col. Gasperson took the Brigade down a road that led up that steep hill. Taking several breaks along the march, with several soldiers falling out; we finally reached the top of the hill. As we hid in the trees at the top we could see the Yankee camp. We waited as we watched the Yankee infantry marched out of camp and towards our camp.
As the other Brigade confronted the Yankee infantry and Cavalry, the order was then given to form Brigade at the bottom of the hill. This proved not to be an easy task. Trying quietly to scale down the steep hill saw several boys and myself included loosing grip and falling constantly. Several of the boys went through a bee's nest and some were stung up to 10 times.
Although it was a tough task, the Brigade made it down the hill without being noticed. As the Brigade formed up at edge of the hill a little girl, obviously a Yankee sympathizer, came running out of no where yelling "Rebels, Rebels" With our surprise now gone Col. Gasperson gave the order to charge the Artillery which was located to the rear of the Infantry. We quickly captured 6 guns and turned them into the Yankee lines. As the other Brigade moved forward on the Yankee lines, we pushed them from the rear.
Not having any option, the Yankee commander raised a white flag and a truce was called and both armies tended to the wounded and dead. After a brief time the Yankee's yielded the field and marched away. Having won the field we were given orders to rest.
That evening Major Frazier again marched the Division back into the town of Duncan Mills on reports of Yankee looting. Upon arriving in town we found no signs of Yankee's and again the Division was rested and the local town folk offered up some libations for the boys.
In the morning we were informed of More Yankee reinforcements having arrived over night. Col. Gasperson formed the Brigade and off we marched to try and out flank them again as we knew their position. As we marched we came by a refugee camp. Although they were mainly families of Virginia, one of them used some kind of hand held telegraph device to warn the Yankee's of our plans. As we marched on the road leading out of the camp we were met with Yankee Infantry and Cavalry. Our surprise being thwarted, we quickly moved into a grove of trees for cover as we had Yankee's to our front and our rear. The firefight was very heavy and in the mass confusion the Yankee's were able to moved two mounted artillery pieces right through our lines. Having placed their artillery right in front of us I gave orders to shoot the crews of the artillery. I have never seen my boys such poor shoots before, but they missed and the two pieces started poring canister down on us. With the threat in front of us we pulled back out of the trees in search of an escape route. Runners were sent to the other brigade to ask for help but none of them made it. With the enemy attacking us on all sides the men were dropping by the dozens. The last thing I remember was a cannon shot that took out most of the Division. I was not wounded just knocked out by a falling soldier's musket. I have reformed my Company and await further orders.
All of Which is Respectfully Submitted, Captain D.C. Lund Commanding, Co. B, 14th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.
