Need Deciphering Help

[huskerblitz]

In case some didn't see the entire poem I posted in a Poems thread, here it is in its entirety. Thank you all for your assist. It's unfortunate that I wasn't able to identify the soldier but at least his words live on.

Elyria Independent Democrat, Feb. 4 1863

The Battle of the 29th of December

At early dawn the battle opens,
And brazen mouthed cannons roar,
Shrieking shells now burst around us,
Shedding streams of crimson gore

At eleven o'clock a charge is ordered
Each arm is nerved to strike a blow,
When bold DeCourcy shouted, "forward"
On we rushed to meet the foe

Our brave Pardee rides among us,
Fear to him was never known,
With his sword he waves us onward,
Heedless of the deadly storm

With shot and shell our ranks are torn,
And brave companions fall in death,
But as they fall they point us forward,
Gasping 'forward' with their latest breath!

On we rush, though unsupported,
Hoping still, the day to gain
Alas! alas! How vain the effort—
One third our forces now are slain

'Tis madness, now, to farther strive,
So deadly is the enemys fire,
Now above the din is heard DeCourcy
Ordering his column to retire

The Sun, this morn, rose red and bloody
And ere it sank behind the west,
The battlefield was red and gory,
And many heroes had sank to rest

L P F Co. E 42nd Reg
(exact name unknown)

 

[Northern Light]

I thought of that too, but the font is also different from the rest of the text. At least the font is larger. And no, this is how it appears in the newspaper....just the three letters and company.

This is what I'm assuming so far:
The first letter is either an I or an L......maybe even the rank for Lt.
Second letter is a P...not sure what else it could be.
Last letter is either an F or a P since there is a 'leaf' on the stem.
The company letter is either a D or an E

Might the second letter be an l', as in l'ete and the first an I, something like Isaac l'Etoile French?

 

[huskerblitz]

Might the second letter be an l', as in l'ete and the first an I, something like Isaac l'Etoile French?

I'm not sure. Wouldn't be as big of a gap between letters is my thinking. But at this point anything is possible. I've looked through the rosters to try to find a combination to fit but with no luck.

 

[TerryB]

Who was DeCourcy?

 

[huskerblitz]

Who was DeCourcy?

Colonel John Fitzroy DeCourcy. A British soldier who basically did just that...soldiering for different countries. He was a Baron in his home country. Fought in the Crimea War and maybe later on in Mexico before returning home.

He was the Colonel for the 16th OVI and was given the 3rd brigade under General Morgan consisting of the 16th OVI, 42nd OVI, 54th Indiana and 22nd Kentucky.

 

[TerryB]

I have newspapers accounts written by a correspondent who signs with his initials. This man might have been a journalist. Officers often used a nom de plume, or pen name when writing to the papers. Some examples I have come across are Vidi (I saw), Dr. Adonis (must have thought himself handsome), and Gentilus (genteel?). Journalists either used their initials or a similar sort of pen name to those just mentioned.

 

[huskerblitz]

I have newspapers accounts written by a correspondent who signs with his initials. This man might have been a journalist. Officers often used a nom de plume, or pen name when writing to the papers. Some examples I have come across are Vidi (I saw), Dr. Adonis (must have thought himself handsome), and Gentilus (genteel?). Journalists either used their initials or a similar sort of pen name to those just mentioned.

You very well could be correct. I was thinking by the use of 'our' brave Pardee rides among 'us' it would be a soldier to pen it, but honestly it's hard to say. And yes, one does see a lot of pen names in the papers of this time. Makes it frustrating not knowing who they are but neat at the same time.