Sooo I was at my future mother-in-law's house. She was going through her parents' things, and knowing I'm a huge civil war nerd, she put a document she found aside for me. Turns out... well, I almost cried when I saw it. Please excuse the terrible quality of the photo. I don't, and she doesn't, know who this soldier was in relation to her family, if he even was. I told her that it could be worth some money. She said she didn't care and told me to keep it. I... am... well. I shook, let me just say that. I guess I might have a little too much of a problem hehe. It's not about the money. It's about what it is, and what it meant.
So whatcha guys think? Anything special?
View attachment 105908
I'm assuming both were at Shiloh ?
Shiloh after battle report:
Reports of Col. David E. Wood, Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry.
HDQRS. FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS, April 11, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report to you the part taken by my command
in the action of the 7th instant.
My men received the fire of the enemy with great credit to themselves,
although it was the first time they had been in action. During the action
my command attacked and took possession of a battery which was
planted in front of the left wing and passed some 50 paces beyond the
battery, when the enemy, by a superior force, caused them to fall back;
they rallied again, and a second time took the guns, which are now upon
the battle-field. The battery is believed to be a Louisiana battery. One
other gun was spiked by First Lieut. George Staley, of Company D;
and Capt. George E. Waldo, Company E, bravely leading on his men,
fell in this attack.
Total killed, 14; total wounded, 73; total missing, 4.+
The officers of my regiment conducted themselves in a very creditable
manner. Lieut. Col. I. E. Messmore rendered valuable service
in the former part of the action, but received a fall from his horse, and
was compelled to leave the field before the action closed. Maj. John
Hancock conducted himself with bravery throughout the action and
rendered very valuable service.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
D. E. WOOD,
Col. Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteers.
Col. SMITH, Cmdg. Brigade.
__________
DEAR COL.: My circumstances at present prevent me from
making such a detailed report as I could desire. (Colonel Wood contracted some sort of sickness in Tennessee
and died in June, 1862).
D. E. W.
HDQRS. FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS, April 21, 1862.
Fearing that a former report made by me of the part my command took
in the action of April 7 may have failed to serve the purpose for which
it was intended, owing to the fact that Col. W. S. Smith, who
commanded the brigade with which I acted, had made his report before
I was able to get mine to him, and as I was not properly a part of his
command, I have deemed it proper, even at this date, to make a report
directly to you. At the time of the battle of April 6 my regiment was
stationed Savannah, and had not been assigned to any division. On the
evening of that day a member of your staff, whose name I cannot recall,
came to my camp and told me he would take the responsibility of
ordering me to Pittsburg Landing. I immediately distributed 40 rounds
of cartridge to each man, took what rations we had in camp, and within
one hour of the time of receiving the order was on board a steamer with
730 effective men. We reached Pittsburg Landing at about 10 p. m.,
and, ascending the bluff, remained there till morning. Being unable to
get orders from headquarters during the night, at the request of Col.
W. S. Smith, commanding a brigade in Gen. Crittenden's division,
I agreed to join his command during the day if I failed to get contrary
orders. Not having received any other orders, I proceeded to the field
under his command, and was assigned by him a position on his right,
which, if I understand the formation of our lines, placed me on the
extreme right of our left wing. Soon after we were formed in line of
battle the enemy was discovered in force beyond an open field on our
right, and I deployed Company A, Capt. Ward commanding, as
skirmishers in that direction. As our skirmishers approached the edge of
the field they were fired upon by the enemy's cavalry, who were
concealed by bushes which skirted the field. They returned the fire, and
fell back upon our main body. One of our men was wounded by this
fire. A battery was then placed by Gen. Buell on our right, covering
the open field, and directed to the west, while our line faced to the
south.
Apprehending an attack somewhere near our position, our men were
caused to lie down and await events. Soon after the enemy planted a
battery directly in front of the center of my regiment, concealing their
operations by the undergrowth of timber, at a distance, I should think,
of not over 30 rods from us. Their fire was directed upon the field
officers, who were at that time near together, and had not dismounted,
fortunately doing no damage, their range being too high. A cross-fire
from the battery on our right and also another on our left was opened
on the enemy's battery at the same time. Our line arose, commenced
firing, and advanced, which caused the enemy hastily to withdraw their
battery and fall back. Our line steadily advanced upon the enemy's lines,
causing them to slowly fall back, contesting, however, every inch of the
ground. Their battery had been replanted at the distance of about
three-fourths of a mile from where our line had been formed. Coming
a second time in the vicinity of this battery, which was in a great
measure concealed by the timber, I ordered my regiment to advance and
take it, which they did, Lieut. George Staley spiking one of the
guns and a private spiking another. Capt. Waldo, Company
E, as well as a number of privates, fell at this time. My regiment,
being new, in their excitement advanced some 70 or 80 paces beyond
the battery, and there were repulsed by a superior force of the enemy
and fell back a considerable distance in some disorder, but soon rallied
and advanced with the main line upon the battery, which was then
recaptured and held. The battery referred to I believe was a Louisiana
battery. During the engagement my men several times wavered under
a galling fire, but in each instance rallied promptly, and remained in
their position until the day was won. I then ordered them to rendezvous
at the place where their blankets and haversacks had been left in the
morning, near the Landing.
I herewith send you, as a part of this report, a complete list of the
killed, wounded, and missing.*
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. E. WOOD,
Col. Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteers.
Maj. Gen. U. S. GRANT.
Bringing the