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Corbin, Elbert (b. 1836) to Emily Corbin [Incomplete]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03685 Author/Creator: Corbin, Elbert (b. 1836) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: July 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 19.3 x 11.7 cm. Order a Copy

Lists some of the men and their injuries, all of which came from the 1st Regiment, Light Artillery, N. Y. S. Volunteers (Pettit's Battery). Also lists supplies lost, repairs made, patching up a Lieutenant Sheldon, and being left there "in care of the Boys." Mentions that General Alexander Hays has taken command of their corps and would not keep volunteer officers on his staff. Discusses "dressing our Boys wounds then...assisting to cut out Balls and dress the wounded Rebels." Comments that he "can do up wounds from shot or shell or Bullits quite like an M.D." and further claims that when he sees "an Arm or a Leg taken off...it has no more effect on my feelings, than cutting so much Beef." He also remarks on seeing many dead in the field, amounting to "more suffering here in one second than you will see in a Leife." Thanks God for seeing him through the battle. Remarks: "such a 4th of July - such a sabbath I shall long remember." Wishes that Captain Rufus D. Pettit had been there, suggesting they would have lost less men. Describes the position of their line on the first and second day, and includes a hand drawn map of the scene on the bottom of p. 6. Apparently written to his wife. Pages numbers 3-6.

3) (Corp W. F. Thorn - wounded both Feet)
(" Hooker " Run over Rt ")
John M Scovil " Rt arm & sides Minnie B.
Lt. - A.S. Shelden Rt. & Lt Groin ")
S. Sherman Gun Shot Lt Arm
[August] Rogers, Rt Leg amput'd upper [inserted: leg] & gun shot in Rt arm
Coraden Wallace Lt Foot Gun Shot
A.B. Mallery Shell, Head
Geo Rabb " "
Theod Deneyer " "
O.S. states Lt. Arm gun shot
Sarg Childs Bruised leg
John Buckley Rt upr leg slight
Pat Mc Gowan Lt Sholder Gun Shot
89 Horses killed - 3 wheels smashed 3 [Cassions] smashed - nearly all our clothing - this is all I can say this sabbath Eve - I [want] to rest A kiss love. Kiss our Darlings. God Bless us -
Monday Eve July 6th. 10.O'Clock - Em I have passed another busily day - Lieut Shelden was fixed up by me and made as comfortable and sent off with some other officers I am left here in Care of the Boys - Several of the boys who had very slight wounds are with the Battery. We have Patched up just so as to man 4 guns all told and the Battery is ready for the front - I have an other Recommend form Lieut Shelden [2] for a Commition in an Independant Command, - if you can use it - Charly Minard has been clerk at Head Qtrs of our Corps a long time and Gen Hays is in command of our Corps now - And he would not keep on his staff - a Volunteer Officer, there was a splendid Officer who was Adj't Gen. and he would not keep him because he was a Vol and has put in a Pumpkins head - (A Regular) - All tell me to give that up, and try for A Com in some of the new Batteries, Independent -
It is a long time since I got a letter from you but I hope in time we shall get a mail - After getting off [Lt] S. I dressed our Boys wounds then 15 or 20 of the Boys of other Batteries then I was sent to work assisting to cut out Balls and dress the wounded Rebels and we now have an quantity of them and I shall have to help tomorrow I can do up wounds from shot or shell or Bullits quite like an M.D. - I have had quite a Dicipline I do it for that - I can see an Arm or Leg taken off and it has no more affect on my feelings, than cutting so much Beef - Dead men and plenty here - and I saw plenty [3] of them in all shapes on the field - Help to wound & Kill men then Patch them up I could show more suffering here in one second than you will see in a Life- at home It is strange how I have disciplined my feelings to see Dying and suffering men and have no feelings only a passing thought, I have some [illegible] that were cut out of men I have had quite a chat to day with Rebels - We get no mail of any kind here - I hope you will get my last letter. It is a bright starlight night and I hope a dry day for the morrow - I think of you at home and I know you know of this Battle and I think of your anxiety - for me- I think of you as at home - But cannot know what news you have rec'd of this Battle, - Give God the Glory so to him with me in prayer and thank him that he has kept me through this Bloody Battle - Oh that I was more thankfull to him His mercy endurith forever - such a 4th of July - such a Sabbath I shall long remember and these days work here among the wounded & dying - But I have learned much - I must say a little only we suffered so much in this Battle and I think if Capt Pettit had been here instead of this fool of a [Ranty] - we should have lost [4] far less The first day we [strikeout] (ie our Corps) was thrown in to fill a Gap in our lines where the [living] were massing and here we suffered much - we were driven back about ¼ mile took another Position and held untill we had No support and were ordered out - the second day the line of battle was the same shape only farther Back, the enemy had their Artillery conceled much - and then the Position that our Capt - put is in was the worst we could have Capt Pettit would never have put us in such a Place. I will mark out a little and show a little as to our Position and the Position Capt would probily have taken had he been here - I cannot map out the whole but [illegible] [where] we were - (the center)…"
[text from a map contained on page four:
crest of hills where Rebels were with their Artillery behind
Rebel sharp shooters behind fence & logs
small stream [sways]
our sharp shooters [concealed]
Crest of hill our lines
Distance from Artillery to artillery from ½ mile
A House & barn
B [strikeout] works Infantry behind
C our cassions
D our 4 runs down slope off hill
O Infantry behind, hill
Road
House & Orchard]

Corbin, Elbert, 1836-?

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