Tuesday, July 17, 2012

1862 before July 18 [Albemarle County, Va.?]

[Sgt. Z. Lee Gilmer's account of his wounding in the battle at Gaines Mill concludes]

here I remained [at his aunt and uncle's in Richmond, Va.] for
a little over  two weeks & my
friend Shepherd who administered
to all my wants dressed my wound
nearly all the time &c like a brother
he was as kind & as attentive as he
could be I shall never forget all this
kindness of my friend & Relation
After My Uncle telegraphed
at once for my devoted father who
was by my bed as soon as the
cars could get him to me.  I could
see that he felt the deepest
suffering for me, no one could
have suffered more, his suffering
was such that it hurt me as
much as my wound, poor man
I felt so much for him with
his kind attention & that of
my friend. I was able to leave
Richmond on the boat July
the 14th with my fathers Kind-
est attention I was enabled to
get to Scottsvill the next day
remained that night at Uncle
John Lewises & the next day
July 16th I reached home.  My Father
suffering & undivided attention
for me I can never forget &
none but a most devoted parent
could feel as he did.  I failed to
mention an occurange [sic] as I was
brought of the field--when I
was being borne of the field
I concluded I was mortalty wounded
which one naturally could have
supposed & I had not been assured
I had killed a Yankee although I
I had fired very often & had fired
many rounds from Yankee
cartridges when I saw a Yankee
prisener pass me.  I pulled out
my pistol to kill him butit
was wet & cloted with my blood
I was at the time assisted on by
one of my men & as I was going
over the field many many came
to my assistance & while I was being
borne of the field one of my men
in order to console me said you neck
bone is broke. he saw a part of my
jawbone sticking out.  As I was borne
of the field I ment Brigade after
Brigade which I cheered or & implored
them to remember Butler the beast
Thus I was unfortunately shot
in the second day's fight of those
brilliane seres fights of the North Chica
hominy which entie plan of attack
was most brilliant formed by Gen
Robt E Lee. we turned their right
Flank & caused to foe to skedaddle


Gilmer's account concludes at this point.   He later married Nannie Patterson and had four children.  He died circa 1900 and is buried in the Scottsville Cemetery, Albemarle County, Va.


MSS 4459

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