Cavalry Report July 23, 1863

[JPK Huson 1863]

A lot of ' home' soldiers and troopers developed the habit of writing letters to their local papers throughout the war. Era papers are a super source for first-hand accounts you wouldn't find anywhere else unless someone else has stumbled on the same paper or it's part of someone's family collection.

This one is a little confusing to me, no expert. I'm sure I'll make more sense of it at some point. My grgrgrandfather, once again ( OH I'm sorry, has he been mentioned before? Trooper Knarr? ), was in the 6th Regulars, although would not have been there for a month post- Gettysburg. He was MIA, generally means a prisoner. Well, he wasn't, according to Don Caughney's records, the author of the amazing book on the 6th US Cavalry. Personal theories are a. Slightly wounded so close to home, may have just, plain gone home to recover, with hospitals there so overwhelmed, b. Having been provost, may have slipped back into the role in the chaos post battle c. had a brother at Gettysburg, infantry, ' think' he was wounded. May have taken him home. ( Yes, he would have gone without asking. Never met him, did not have to. Met the rest of the family, like Dad and Grandpop. )

Anyway, cool letter home by someone who was there. As I said, little confusing to me personally but will keep at it!

 

[John Hartwell]

Just noting that this is about the 6th Ohio Cavalry, not the 6th U.S. Cavalry. That may be the source of your confusion? It's a very good summary of actions, though.