Buntly, G. W. (fl. 1862-1864) to William Buntly
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04190.05 Author/Creator: Buntly, G. W. (fl. 1862-1864) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 March 1863 Pagination: Order a Copy
Discusses the battle at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and the burning of a federal gunboat.
[Partial]
To: William Buntly Port Hudson, La.
From: G. W. Buntly March the 16th, 1863
We are lying in the ditches watching for the enemy for it is and have been pretty warm times here for a day or two, the fight commenced on the 14th inst. about 2 o'clock and the bombarding continued until sunset and then they ceased until ten in the night and they commenced a new and the whole elements appeared to be at times in a work with bums, they fell all round us and we could see them for about three miles, we could see them by the light of fuse burning. I got so I could tell perty near where and when the shells would burst, I stood up all the time and would tell the other boys when they were coming and then they would freeze to the ground when the bum would burst before it got to us I would ly low for after they pass there are no danger for when they burst they allways throw the peaces forward and out at each side but never back I seen more on that night than all the other fights I have been. We did not suffer any loss in our Regiment and but six or eight in all at this post, there were six gunboats that came up and tride to pass and one did pass and we crippled two and burnt one of the largest ones, the one we burnt was a steamship and maned thrity large guns and three howitzers and a crew of three hundred men, they were all killed, wounded but thirty three that we taken on yesterday morning for they got on the other side of the river. I had the pleasure of seeing the Man of War burn to ashes, it burnt for 3 hours, (gives full details).
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