CIVIL WAR 1864 Soldier Letter MEMPHIS EXPEDITION AGAINST FORREST GREAT CONTENT

Description

Civil War soldier's letter, 2 pgs., approx. 7-3/4" x 9-3/4", dated at
Memphis, Tennessee, July 21, 1864
, from John B. Rice to his wife.
The writer of this letter, DR. JOHN B. RICE, (1832-1893), was a physician in Fremont, Ohio, who early in the war, enlisted as Asst. Surgeon of the 10th Ohio Infantry, and was not long after commissioned as Surgeon of the
72nd Ohio Infantry
; After distinguished service at the Battle of Shiloh, he was promoted rapidly from Regimental to Brigade Surgeon, and then as
Chief Surgeon of a Division in the 15th Army Corps, and Chief Medical Officer of the District of Memphis
, where he was at the head of 150 military surgeons, overseeing the care of 15,000 soldiers. After the war, he went on to serve a term in the
U.S. Congress
, (1881-1883).
Superb content, writing of the just concluded expedition to Tupelo, Miss. under Gen. Andrew Jackson Smith, in which Confederate forces under Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest were defeated at the Battle of Tupelo (July 14-15, 1864), a Union victory which ensured the safety of Sherman's supply lines during the Atlanta campaign. Dr. Rice writes that his old Regiment, the 72nd Ohio, "covered itself in glory" during the battle, noting that "they whipped Forrest badly", and goes on to list in detail the men who were wounded, describing their wounds, etc.
Includes:
"My Dear Wife,
The expedition under General Smith returned to La Grange yesterday. They whipped Forrest badly; but we also have suffered severely. We received between three and four hundred wounded last night by the train. The 72nd covered itself with glory at the engagement near Tupelo, on the 14th.
Sixteen, all the most severely wounded in the 72nd who were not left at Tupelo, came in. Among them is Major Eugene Rawson, who is dreadfully wounded. A bullet entered his right eye and came out just in front of his left ear. His condition is dangerous. He is delirious most of the time. His left eye is good.
The rest of the wounded unable to march are as follows:
Officers
. Lieut. D. W. Huffman, left leg shattered just above the ankle. He was left at Tupelo.
Sergt. Major Charles L. Hudson, side, severe.
Co. A, James Martin, three fingers off left hand. Edgar Reynolds killed.
Co. C, Duncan Carter, thigh, slight. Michael Frederick, shoulder, severe.
Co. D, William Groley, shoulder, slight. Grones, thigh, severe.
Co. F, George Jackson, right arm amputated, left at Tupelo.
Peter Andrews, head, dangerous, left at Tupelo.
Joseph Bensinger, in thigh & left arm amputated at shoulder joint - left at Tupelo.
Augustus Smith, leg, slight....
Co. G, Darius Downing, shoulder, severely.
William Davis, thigh                           do
The rest of the wounded are all slight.
The Regiment had not over one hundred men engaged.
I am very busy, which must be my excuse for not writing more now.
Your loving husband,
John B. Rice"
Normal folds. Fine.
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