On July 27, 1862 Lt. Ujanirtus Allen of Co. F, 21st Ga. Volunteer Infantry, wrote to his wife:
"Our company is selected out of this regiment to drill in the artillery drill so that we can man a captured battery or our own guns in cases of emergency. I have only drilled two lessons and we can man a gun now. If I have an opportunity I intend to drill them well."

The 21st Ga. was at this time in Trimble's Brigade, Ewell's Division, in the force commanded by Stonewall Jackson. They were less than two weeks away from dragging cannons up Cedar Mountain to a position commanding the battlefield--some dying of heat stroke in the process. Perhaps the last artillery pieces they ever wanted to handle.

Does anyone know what prompted this training or how extensive it was?

George Walker