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Re: Confederate dead at Corinth
In Response To: Confederate dead at Corinth ()

Roy,
From my personal notes, I find the following references:

It is impossible at present to make an accurate report of the killed, wounded, & missing in battle, as the 35th Ms dispersed after the fight at Davis' Bridge, there being now present but some 40 men & 1 line officer-Lt Henry. From the best information we can obtain we are assured that many of the officers & men have gone to their homes. This conduct on their part is astonishing & unaccountable, for the Regt acted nobly & did good service during the three days' fighting. It is to be regretted that its commander, Col Barry, was not present on the 5th, he having been sent to Corinth under a flag of truce to bury the dead. He is a gallant & efficient officer, of whom his State may well be proud

In the campaign against Grant in Sept & Oct at Corinth they [Division of Moore, Cabell, & Phifer] had shown great tenacity, being in action three days. They went in with 4800 Rifles the first day, & on the third 3/4 of their number were gone, yet the remaining 1200 fought from 1 A.M. to 4 P.M. with unfaltering devotion. Gen Rosecrans himself paid a marked & generous compliment to the bravery of that Div. When Van Dorn, after the battle, detailed a party under Col Barry to bury our dead, Rosecrans courteously replied that "he could not admit them within his works, for reasons which Gen Van Dorn could appreciate, but that the latter might rest assured that all possible care would be bestowed upon the wounded & all respect showed the dead, especially those who fell so bravely as the men of Maury's Div."

10/11/62 In the woods 10 miles from Holly Springs-Here I am after 16 days hardship retreating from place to place. At Corinth, we lost a great many of our best men-incl Col Daly.
Capt Owens went back to bury our dead. Hobson was wounded in the arm. It was awful & I hope I never see such again. It was an utter rout of our men on Sat. There are now not over 600 men in our Bgde.
The [campaign] was outrageous from 1st to last. It was wholesale butchery. I leave for Holly Springs tomorrow [Carroll’s 18th Ark, Rust’s Bgde]

The next day we were stopped at a bridge on the Hatchie River in attempting to force a passage which we did but was again repulsed with severe loss & had to re-cross. Many were cut off from crossing & taken Prisoners. We lost in killed Isham A. Keltner, wounded Dow Chatman slightly in head. Missing G. Chatman, John T. _____, John S. White
We sent back the next day from our Regt 10 men to bury the dead. When they return, I will have more leisure & will write a long letter & give full particulars. Our men done their duty
I cannot particularize any of them. We have as gallant a Co as ever marched to the Battlefield. Grieve not after the spirits that have fallen. They have sealed with a seal that will never be broken their love to their country. Your son in good health- George S. Milam
NOTES
Letter transcribed by Mike Thompson December 10, 2009 from original.
George S. Milam Co D, 6th Texas Cav Regt. George & Robert were nephews of the famous Texan Ben Milam. The soldiers were all from Collin County, Texas.

10/25/62 Holly Springs, Van Dorn to Rosecrans, cdg forces at Corinth

5. Iuka, as all other points within the sphere of action of this army or yours, must be considered liable to the vicissitudes of war. In conclusion allow me to express to you my gratification at the humane manner of your treatment to our prisoners of war & for the burial honors paid by you to the gallant dead who fell under your Btrys. Such actions betoken the brave soldier & honorable gentleman & can by no construction ever prove injurious to any cause. They will ever be cheerfully reciprocated by your opponents

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