Coverdale, Robert Todd (fl. 1861-1890) to James William Denver
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03544 Author/Creator: Coverdale, Robert Todd (fl. 1861-1890) Place Written: Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 July 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Coverdale, Lieutenant and Assistant Quartermaster for the Military Division of the Mississippi, replies to a letter from Union General Denver discussing the death of Frank Johns, a mutual acquaintance. Writes "The Army is a great school for finding out the faults and failings of Men much more so then it is in peaceful or private life. But I have never seen or heard of any man who questioned the integrity of ... Frank Johns..." In a lengthy post script, mentions the death of General James Birdseye McPherson in the 22 July 1864 Battle of Atlanta. Describes the Battle of Atlanta, stating "Shermans old Divisn Skedaddled [Your?] Old Division stood their ground like brave fellows... the Gray backs fought with desperation nothing on earth can exceed their bravery our works and overpowering numbers saved us..." Mentions Major McCoy and Generals John Murray Corse, Thomas William Sweeny, Oliver Otis Howard, Joseph Hooker, John Alexander Logan. Writes that Generals Hoovy (possibly Alvin Paterson Hovey), and Peter Joseph Osterhaus "left us in face of the Enemy with the comands in line of Battle... so much for Party and Politics It would have been considered cowardice in some to have left as they did before the Enemy Tecumsey is awful mad about it..." Written in the field near Atlanta on Head-Quarters, Military Division of the Mississippi stationery.
[excerpt]
... I need not assure you how sorry I feel to learn the sad news, nor how Keenly and deeply I sympathise with his Parents relatives and friends in their severe affliction. 'I Knew William Frank Johns well' ... P.S. General, I saw Poor McPherson stretched lifeless on the field on the 22nd. ... this is the hardest Campain I have ever made we gave up under a flag of truce and buried ourselves on the 23d. Some 3100 Rebels, have 1300 of their wounded in our hospitals, took over 1800 prisoners and altogether their los in Killed, wounded, Prisoners, and deserters, could not have been much than 16000 Men, this was on the 22d, on the 20th. they admit a loss of 6000. Our total loss in Killed and wounded both days does not exceed 5870 Men. We loaned on the 22nd. 10 pieces of artilary and came near loosing 6 more. Shermans old Division Skedadled . Your Old Division stood their ground like brave fellows. The Rebels succeeded in turning our left flank, and getting in our rear ... we had several line of breast works to fall back and our men fought mostly behind works which will account for the great loss to the Rebels, but I tell you the Gray backs fought with desperation ... our works, and overpowering Numbers saved us ... Genl. Corse takes comand of Gen Sweeneys Div in the 16th Corps to day Genl. Howard takes comand of McPhersons comand to day ... I may just tell you that Genl Hoovey and Osterhaus left us in face of the Enemy with the Commands in line of Battle have been to Washington and both of them are Major Generals ... Tecumsey is awfull mad about it and Telegraphed to Staunton that if the Rear is the post of honor, he had better let his Army face about and march on Washington ...
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