Miller, Michael Murray (1861-1864) to Lile Miller
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02155.055 Author/Creator: Miller, Michael Murray (1861-1864) Place Written: Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 July 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.3 x 12.7 cm. Order a Copy
Written from camp on the James River. Notes that in the last battle (likely the Seven Days Battles), many of his fellow soldiers were lost or captured as prisoners. Writes, "...every where we turned it was carnage and Blood and it seemed as if the Rebels were hunting the Reserve Corps down like wolves But they paid dearly for it for we killed at least five to one... the Rebels were all drunk as nearly all the canteens we found had Wiskey and Powder in them, and they fought like demons..." Writes that President Abraham Lincoln was there the previous day, likely for a review. Notes he was embarrassed due to his companies' raggedness.
According to a previous letter, Miller was part of a reserve force sent to support McClellan, who was engaged in the Seven Days Battles 25 June-1 July 1862 near Richmond.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.