Swisher, Daniel to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.40.14 Author/Creator: Swisher, Daniel Place Written: Harper's Ferry, Jefferson County, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 September 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 21.7 x 27.3 cm. Order a Copy
Swisher tells Bishoff of the great battle that took place on the 14th of September. His Regiment was in the fight and was "Terribly cut to pieces Taking in to The fight 340 and Brought out 200. getting 112. wounded. and 28 Killed." There were three men killed and seven wounded in his company (5 pretty badly and two slightly). John C. Foglesong was one of the killed, dying instantly of a shot through the head. Bishoff's and Kate's likenesses were buried with him as he had requested while traveling on the James River with Swisher. Swisher reports that there was "many a poor soldier put out of The way on that Day" and he remarks that "if you Could Have seen The Battle field you would Have Been Satisfied never to see another Battle while you live." He describes the gruesome sight: "for 1 mile wide and 4 miles long the ground was so Thickly Covered that it looked like logs lying on a Cleering." Swisher was not in the fight himself on account of his being barefooted and unable to march, but he reports on the condition of some of the others who fought (two of his acquaintances were slightly bruised and one was shot through the arm). He also tells Bishoff that he cannot express his feelings while walking over the battlefield and seeing his "Dearest friends and fellow soldiers lying on the field Butchered in That kind of a way." He remarks that he has "seen Enough" even though his three years are not yet up. He notes that, "the friends that Came from Home with me … are all gone so I am left without." He wants Bishoff to tell him when she receives the news that John was killed. He informs her that his company has about 10 able men, and explains that he is not able himself but will still continue as long as he can stand. He says that they have all been running ever since the 23rd of last February - "enough to Kill up any set of soldiers" - and that he is so crippled with rheumatism that he must stop for now. They have not been in one camp for 48 hours since they left Harrison Landing [the 7th Virginia Regiment left Harrison Landing on July 2nd, 1862].
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