I signified my intention, in a
former note, of making a second acknowledgement
of your long and interesting missive, just as soon
as the leisure of the times would permit, but
a physical indisposition, which has for some
days consigned me to the list of inefficients,
coupled with the want of any news that would
merit your perusal, induced a delay which I
now hasten to arrest with all the spirit and
rapidity that my present feelings and conven=
ience will allow.
I presume you have been apprised ere this
of our late retreat from Cotton Hill, which in
consequence of a want of transportation for the
large number of sick, was attended with con=
siderable loss of property.
Against the unanimous wishes of the officers,
who, I understand, even petitioned the War Depart
ment for permission to withdraw to a more suit=
able position, Gen. Floyd, with a mere handful
of efficient men, remained encamped for three
or four weeks at Cotton Hill and even contem=
plated wintering in the very jaws of an over=
whelming force of the enemy. It was only a de=
lusion of our strength that prevented their attack
ing us sooner for the prisoners state that, until
[page 2]
a few days previous to their crossing the river,
they were under the impression that our strength
was some 28,000 whilst I do'nt suppose we had
2800 efficient men. The Gen. was seemingly con=
vinced that between him and the enemy there
was a "great River fixed" whose attempted crossing
would be attended with a "can not", but on the
night of the 10th inst, some 100 Yankees, instigated
no doubt, by the same individual who upon one
occasion successfully attempted a similar feat,--
trusting to a "strong rebuff" ventured upon the peril=
ous route, and, wonderful to speak, effected a safe
landing. They had scarcely recovered from self-admir
ation of this bold adventure before they came in
contact with some watchful but less venturesome
spirits who had been stationed there to foil their
purposes. A short skirmish ensued which resulted
in the loss of two killed, several wounded and 6
prisoners. This daring feat relieved the Gen. of his
former belief, and early on the following morning he
fell back 3 miles, and commenced preparing to receive
an attack. They did not come on that day, but on the
day following they came over in great numbers. On
the evening of that same day the pickets had a skermish
with the loss of one or two killed on both sides. On
the same night we fell back 8 miles this side of Fayette
ville to prevent being surrounded. On the following morning
as the Brigade was moving off the enemy's Pickets
attacked our rear guard, in which engagement Col.
Crone of the cavalry was killed and two or three privates
[page 3]
wounded. Without further pursuit by the enemy
the Gen. continued to "retire sullenly" until he reached
Piney Creek, 3 miles this side of Raleigh Court House
where he is at present stationed. His men are without
tents and many of them without blankets.
Having been quite unwell for several days previous
to the retreat, the Surgeon advised me to go to Fayetteville
where I went in company with John Crockett who
was also complaining. We remained here until the
general retreat began, when we came on together to
Raleigh Court House. Here John remained to join
the Brigade, but I came on to this place, where all
the sick were brought. At our first encampment,
after leaving Raleigh, I was surprised on waking
in the morning to find the earth robed in univer=
sal white of several inches thickness. I began to be
deeply impressed with Bonapartes retreat.
It was indeed a sad spectacle to witness the suffering
of some poor fellows who were entirely helpless
on the night of our second encampment, after
leaving Raleigh, two of our men died, one of whom
was from our county, Robert Bunt. The roads were
excessively rough and the men suffered greatly from
the jolting of the wagons. It appears to me that the
whole affair has been badly mismanaged but upon
this I indulge no remarks. Or Gens movements
seem to be involved in mist, and have so far
resulted in the same. What the Gen. intends doing
now I cannot learn but as he has rather distin
guished himself for "Big retreats" I could wish, so far
[page 4]
as creature comforts are concerned, and, if not too
detrimental to the cause that he would return to the Rail
Road; but I think it more than probable that he will
winter over here somewhere.
The idea of wintering over here will be a death knell
to many a poor fellow who expected to have his "duo
in uno" consummated this winter, but as I am not
connected with the future by any bright hopes, I can
endure it with considerable fortitude; yet I should
be delighted to pay my friends a visit.
You impute to me what seems to be a deduction
of your own in accusing me of feeling no interest
in the young ladies of the immediate neighborhood.
It was a mere question of fancy and not of interest
that we were upon one occasion discussing, for
I can assure you that the latter often lord it over
the former.
The old "Ironsides" are getting along only tol=
erably well and if you could see them now you
would not believe that they seriously belie their
Self-adopted "Soubriquet", especially in that super=
ficial transition which such metal is known to
undergo when exposed for a time to the oxidizing
influence of a damp atmosphere.
The Capt. was complaining some when I left the
Brigade. Lieut. Painter has not been seen in the branch
lately which is a certain indication of his health.
Lieut. Robinson and the Orderly are enjoying fine
health. The latter speaks of going home soon pro=
vided he can get a furlough. Lieut. Robinson is here at present
[page 5]
but will return to the army shortly; He is acting
as Quarter master in Capt. Tates absence. His taste
does not seem to run in a military line. He has
been acting as clerk in the Quartermaster depart=
ment almost ever since he came into the army.
We have several privates sick at this place, but
none, I think, dangerously so. We have lost two
men by fever since we entered the service.
I do not wish to impose too much sympathy
upon you, but a sick man has a hard time of
it in the army. They often die from pure neglect
or incompetency of the surgeon. When I was taken
sick at Cotton Hill owing to a want of con=
fidence in the surgeons of our Regiment, I post=
poned taking any medicine for several days, but fin=
ding myself gradually declining I sent for Dr. Gleaves,
under whose prescription I improved rapidly.
I am considerably reduced and still weak, but
if I could get something good to eat I think
I would be well in a few days. Even in this town
it seems impossible to get any delicacy fit for
a sick man to eat. There are about six or eight
hundred sick at this place, and they have
caused a famine in the delicacies already.
We draw and cook our rations here just as tho'
we were in the army, and you can form some
conception of its preparation.
Reuben Sayers is here at present, and has a son
sick who I fear will not recover. Craig Carter
is also here. He came to see his nephew who is also
[page 6]
sick. He however has not arrived yet.
I heard that Kelly Bennetts was sick at Raleigh
Court House but I could not find him as I came
through. I met Crockett Graham going on to
see Wythe, as I came here but it is probable that
Wythe was on the late expedition with Col.
Clarkson down on Guyandotte. He (not Wythe) made quite
a brilliant dash down there. He captured 45
equipped horses, 250 Enfield rifles, 96 prisoners
and killed from 30 to 50 of the enemy.
I heard that Capt. Thompson of the "Smith
Dragoons" had his thigh broken in the engage=
ment, but of the particulars I know nothing.
Various rumors are continually afloat here
from other parts of the world, from which
I find it impossible to sift the truth. As few
of them ever assume anything
tial form we have to be very cautions how we receive
them. I want you to answer just as soon as
you receive this. Hoping that you will excuse
this "passum in multo" without further apology
I will subscribe
Myself Yours &c
"Iron Side"
[William Hanson Tate]
P.S. I am not informed as to what point will
be chosen for our Post Office; so you can direct
your letter to the 51st Regiment Va Vol Floyds Brigade.
P. S. again. I hear from a source that commands some cdegree
onfidence that the 50th and 51st Regs are on the march for
Peterstown to take up winters Quarters.
MSS 9232-n
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