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From: "Tammie and Keith" <>
Subject: civil war letter pages 11 and 12- all I have
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 16:31:55 -0500


11.
We marched through Fredericksburg, Va. where Gen. Burnside's army fought
the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec.12th, '62. The Union army was defeated,
losing about 12,000 men and had to re-cross the Rappahannock River on the
14th, we arrived near Washington, D.C. Went into camp near the Potomac
River. Polished our brass cannon, etc. and got ready for the Grand Review.
Wahsington was packed with people from all parts of the U. S. A. to see the
two great armies reviewed. YES, GREAT ARMIES. The Army of the Potomac, that
is, some of them, had fought from Bull Run, July 21st, '61, to Lee's
surrender at Appommatox Courthouse, April 19th, '65. Four long years of war.
Sherman's army, some of them, had served under Gen. Lyon, who was killed
at the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo. Aug.10th, '61, then under Gen. Grant at
the battle of Belmont, Mo. Nov. 7th, '61 to the battle of Chattanooga, Tenn.
and Missionary Ridge, Nov. 23rd&24th, '63, then General Grant took command
of the Army of the Potomac and Gen. Sherman took command of the Western
troops until after the Grand Review. No two armies, backed and helped by our
brave navy, (as fine and brave a navy as ever went to sea,)also greatly
helped and supported by the loyal men, women, and children. They had served
our UNITED STATES.
The Army of the Potomac was reviewed May 23rd, '65. Sherman's on the
24th. I shall never forget the grand sight. The great mass of people, and as
we passed the reviewing stand, President Johnson, Generals Grant, Sherman,
and many others were there. The weather was perfect, everything moved to
perfection, and yet, there was a great disappointment in the Review We
missed our much loved President Abraham Lincoln, "The Saviour of Our
Country." The 15th Ohio Battery was in the review. Our Captain, James
Bur-dic, rode ahead of the battery. Behind him, the Flag, on the left of the
Flad, 1st Sergeant, on the right, Bugler (P. K.), everything about the
battery was o.k., and we made a good show.
A few days after the review, we took our 4 brass 12 lb and two 20 lb
Parott guns, horses, etc. to the United Arsenal and turned them over to

12.
the Government. Went back to camp. Several days afterwards, we got into,
not Pullman, but BOX cars, and started for home. Went through, or rather, as
we were going through Zanesville, Ohio, we were all looking for Gen.
Leg-gett, who was for awhile, our Division Commander, who lived there for
awhile after the war. Some were on top of one of the cars, our Captain,
James Burdick, was there, We were crossing a bridge over the river, their
backs faced the bridge. A rod running from side to side of the bridge
struck our Captain in the back of the neck. He fell down between two cars,
then between two ties, down into deep water. had he fallen about ten feet
farther, he would have struck rocks, which might have killed him. He began
to swim. The train stopped. There was a flourmill beside the track. The
millworkers were at the windows, looking at, and cheering us, but when they
saw the Captian fall, some of them jumped into the river from where they
were, others ran out on the bridge and dropped down into the river, and swam
for him. He said, "Thank you, boys, but I can swim. Kindly gather my papers.
They did so, and swam along side of him, in case he should get the cramps or
weaken. All landed safely. Such cheering! The Captain and all of us thanked
them for their kindness. The Captain seemed to have a charmed life. He
served in the war against Mexico, and more than three years in the Civil
War. He lived to be about 84. he was a fine and good looking soldier, we
thought a great deal of him.
The train reached Columbus, Ohio, and on the 20th of June '65, turned
over it's battle-stained Flag to the State authorities, were paid off, and
mustered out, ONCE MORE FREE MEN.
I failed to mention, that while on our way to join Gen. Grant's army at
Pittsburg Landing, we were fired into by some rebels. Our boat landed on the
other side of the river, charged ON A CORNCRIB. Moved wagons, and some other
stuff from the bow of the boat and planted 2 of our 6 lb brass cannon there,
the boat pulled out, started for the place from where we were fired into.
THEN for the first time, some of the boysof the 15th


That currently is all I have of the letter and outline until I get in touch
with my cousin. Hopefully it touched you like it did me. Once again I
state I typed everything word for word and letter for letter exactly how it
was in the letter from Mr. Paul Kamerer. Also, from what I have right now
on hand from the Civil War Research Database from ancestry.com:
Edward SPEAR, Served Ohio, Enlisted 20 August 1861 and 1st Lieut, age 31
James BURDICK,Served Ohio, Enlisted 26 November 1861 as 1st Lieut. , age 35
Edwin F. REEVE, Served Ohio, Enlisted 01 January 1862, as 2nd Lieut, age 32
Charles N. MOORE, Served Ohio, Enlisted 12 December 1861 as Qtr Master Serg,
age 27
Stiles E. STURGES, Served Ohio, Enlisted 02 January 1862 as Corporal, age 35
Barnett PENNELL (my gg grandfather), Served Ohio, Enlisted 09 January 1862
as Private, age 21
Jesse DAY, Served Ohio, Enlisted 26 February 1864, Private, age 44
(a little note I believe Jesse to be father of George E. DAY, Served Ohio,
enlisted 26 February 1864, Private age 18)
George GESNER, Served Ohio, Enlisted 11 December 1861, as Private, age 21

Have a Blessed Day,
God Bless,
Tammie

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