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How the letter may have readLast week was ihc first recreated historic leucr ol William Anthony Crum to his brother north of Friendsville. Today is another historically recreated letter to his sister. Eli/a both Ann Crum. After the war she would marry her neighbor, Edward Pix-ley who served in Co. C 115th III. Volunteer Infantry beginning in September of 1862.Co. T 32nd III RegimentNear Corinlh, MississippiMay 17. 1862 Dear Sister.Last month we were in a big battle near here at a place called Shiloh. Ii was a hard fought battle, and could have gone either way At umcs ihc rcbs were winning, but wc finally beat them nicy rcircaied to Cixinth. Mississippi where 2 main railradi cross.It was an experience ihai I'U never Target. Before th- battle, Ihere were grassy hills with a Ik of trees. There were fragrant peach trees in full bloom with their beautiful (eddish-pink flowers After April 6-7. the trees were just ragged, shattered stumps. The peach flower petals were all on the grcond. wilted, and on the dead and wounded. The grass was mostly gone and raw earth showed in most places. There were a lol of holes and craters where cannon balls and shells had landed. During the battle, ihc wild animals were very confused. At one time, flocks of liule birds (who were nesting and roosting in the area) fluttered and circled above the field in confusion. Some rabbits fled the destroyed, brushy areas. In their panic, they ran to tlte protection of the men lying down and nestled under their coats and crept under their legs and shivered in fright. They hopped over the fields like toads, as tamed by fright as if they were household pels.Our food is not very good. How I miss those wonderful Sunday dinners that you and Mother fix!!! Our usual ration is bacon (often mouldy) and hardtack-a 5 inch square, hard cracker nude of flour and lard and baked until it is as hard as aHistoricallyYoursBy Dallas Krumm,Wabash County Historical Societyshingle. Sometimes by the time we get the hardtack, the lard has gotten rancid and little weevil (bugs) have gouen into the hardtack. Also, we draw a coffee ration. Usually 2 men who shire a simple A-frame tent cook together. Can you imagine what my cooking would ustc like? Most soldiers have a lot of stomach aches, diarrhea and fever as a result of this diet as well as drinking water from ditches and streams. Bui that is what wc usually can get.Onec in awhile, wc are issued some vegetables, or eggs, or fresh meal. Usually, we have to beg. buy. swap, or steal thesevegetables, eggs, chickens, or fresh meat. There are strict orders against stealing food from the local pcople-this is called foraging But as the rebel army bis been here before us. there is very’ little to be bought at any price. So it is usually bacon, hardtack and coffee foe every meal.The officers have strict orders to punish foragers.There is a fumy story going around the campx. Genaal Palmer was rtdmg along die lines doing an inspection of the trenches and breastworks. He suddenly came upon some of the boys of T Company. 27th III.Reg. They had just shot a 20) pound bog and were skmiung it. As the boys had just arrived the night before arvj this was early the next morning, it was obvious that it was a stolen hog. The astonished General Palmer fell that he had to enforce the foraging order. Rather than arrest the soldiers and confiscate the cvi. dcncc. he said in a very sorrow-ful lone.“Ah! a hdy--corpse Some poor fellow gone 10 his last home. Well, he must be buried with military honors Sergeant, call the officer of the guard.The officer came quickly and received orders to have a grave dug and the body buried immediately. The grave was woo dug. and the company was mustered Pallbearers placed the body of the dead upon the stretcher. The order was given to march, and with reversed arms an! funeral tread, the solemn group of 60 men followed the body to the grave. Nk a word passed nor a muscle of the face stirred while th? Iasi rites were being performed. When tlte ceremony was over, the men were dismissed and the general aixl his staff went on their way.Battle-hardened sobers are very philosophical and good survivors. So before the general had even vat down to enjoy his own breakfast, there was a raising of the dead (hog) and delicious pork-steaks were frying in many a camp-pan.Tell all our neighbors and relatives hello for me. Help Mother as mtxh as you can with the housework and the livestock II has been hard fix her (Lois Preston Ctum) to raise all of us after Father died 15 years ago.Write as soon as you can. Utters from home mean so trwch to all of us.Your most caring brother.William Anthony CrumThis created Historical letter was done by the great grandson of William Anthony Crum-Dallas Krumm, family stories and moth research were called upon lo write this letter to better Id form the readers about wltai the civil war was like for many area soldiers.
Newspaper Details
Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register
Mount Carmel, Illinois, US
Fri, Apr 15, 1994
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
George C.
VA, USA 27 May 2017
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