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County Coordinators:  J. W. Johnson and Allison Saxman
Webmaster:  Allison Saxman

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The Alabama AlGenWeb Archives

Confederate Army
Menasas Junction                July 24, 1861

Mr. Musgrove

        I have not heard from home since I left but I am not much surprised
for I have been moveing about so much that a letter could not have kept up
with me. I wrote to you from Lynchburg and left immediately for Richmond
stayed there four days and went to Strasbury then took up the line of march
to Winchester where they were expecting a battle but General Patterson
retreated. we stayed 24 hour in Battl line waiting his approach it seems he
could not face Thirty thousand with Fortyfive and retired to Martinsburg
thence reinforced Scott at or near this place. As soon as this inteligence
reached General Johnson he ordered us to this place so we had a force march
to Oedement[?] Thirty miles and left at 2 o'clock and marched all night
forded Creeks and a River which took a good while. took the lears[?] for
this pular? and arrived Monday morning after the Battle on Sunday in fact
the fight was still going on by our Chalvery who were chasing them and
slaying many all along the Road.  Our unit is in a half mile of the Battle
field and I have visited it several times. the first time I was out there I
could have walked on dead bodies for hundred yards at a time. the line of
Battle was about ten miles long. The southern troops were burried before I
went out. I would try to give you a discription of the Battle and the
appalling sights of the field but I can not find words to picture the
horrible sight or the many manuvers of both Armies, the enemy started one
Regiment of our  trops [troops?] and they gave away and then charged on them
with great sweep and then retreated back to the main Army and then they had
a hard struggle for a time and we (our army) retreated charged again &
again. we were certainly whiped thru time but our men did not know it but
kept rallying until they completely routed the enemy. the supposed number
of killed & wounded is fifteen hundred on our side and about or rather
between seven and ten thousand of the Enemy and we took fifteen hundred
prisoners and a great number of horses and fifteen thousands of Arms Eighty
pieces of cannon and they kept bringing in prisoners guns and cannon so I
give you what we have got today at the junction. (our camp is about six
miles from the junction in the northwestern direction on a branch called
Bulls Run so I do not know what they will call the Battle). they had a
fight here last Thursday and got whipped but I can not tell you anything
about that only we kill a good many of them to little or none of us.

        Our quarters is not very pleasant on account of the cent of the
horses that were killed. all of the Enemy were not burried. We offered to
let them come back with a hundred men and furnish a hundred if they wanted
too but Gen Scott said without we would let them come with Arms an burry
them with honor he would not do it. We gave them the chance before and they
throwed up batteries and we could not trust them any more but we burried
them until the cent was so obnoxious that we had to quit it and they ly on
the fields by hundreds yet.

        I want you to tell Brother Ed to be certain and get my trunk from
Burks for I have little confidence in him any way and keep my papers and
the little things carful for I have some little  relics that I prise very
highly although they may appear worthless.

        I have had several interviews with the wounded enemy and what I can
learn from them there is a great many that there time is out and they were
beged to come and take this place and march straight to Richmond and the
fight would end in eight days but you see they were mistaken. some say they were starving at home the reason they voluntiered but there is a great many that will certainly quit now and if ever in service again will be forced into it. It is rumored in camp that they are fighting amongst themselves at Washington and Lincoln has ordered (& Congress approved) Four hundred thousand troops and four hundred million of dollars.  if that be true the ball has just commenced and both sections
ruined almost but the North is bound to feel the shock ten time the worst
for they had ten men to one on several positions and we whipped them on
ever one at this place and no position were we equal in numbers to them and
we were attacked in twenty places at once and they had the advantage in
positions most all the time & came very near out flanking us.

        Alabama has the credit of doing the hardest fighting of any.  Miss
& Virginia next, in fact all of our troops done honor to themsels as I hope
they will ever continue and believe they will do.

        R. J. Stewart and Robt Smith are well and seem to enjoy camp life
finely. Bobs Farther is here but was not in the fight he is well. We have
the Measels in our Regiment but n[no]
serious cases as yet we send them off to the hospital& the Diarhea has ben
previlent especialy when they have beef.  that is all the sickness that has
been in the Regiment and I have escaped so far.

        Give my love to all.

                                Your Brother Lem


[in pencil in the margin] :
Direct your to me Richmond  Va
11 Regiment Alabama
Col Franks Company and the [rest illegible]