- Joined
- Aug 9, 2011
- Location
- Lockhart, Texas
I'm reading Journey to Pleasant Hill, the Civil War Letters of Captain Elijah Petty, Petty was a lawyer from Bastrop, Texas and led Co. F, 17th Texas Infantry, Scurry's Brigade, Walker's Division. On November 5th 1863, he wrote his wife from Bayou Boeuf, Louisiana:
"I was so sure that we would have to fight for a few days. In fact it was so imminent that I double shotted my six shooter and otherwise made the necessary dispositions for the fight of which was throwing my sword away or sending it to the rear with the wagon which is equivalent."
Petty had been wounded in the battle at Milliken's Bend five months earlier, and died leading his company at the battle at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana in April, 1864. I suppose that he found his sword a nuisance in the nasty assault and melee at Milliken's Bend. I don't know if he carried it at Mansfield or Pleasant Hill. Or if his pistol was double-shotted. But he was a compulsive writer of letters, a devoted father and husband, and obviously a brave man.
"I was so sure that we would have to fight for a few days. In fact it was so imminent that I double shotted my six shooter and otherwise made the necessary dispositions for the fight of which was throwing my sword away or sending it to the rear with the wagon which is equivalent."
Petty had been wounded in the battle at Milliken's Bend five months earlier, and died leading his company at the battle at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana in April, 1864. I suppose that he found his sword a nuisance in the nasty assault and melee at Milliken's Bend. I don't know if he carried it at Mansfield or Pleasant Hill. Or if his pistol was double-shotted. But he was a compulsive writer of letters, a devoted father and husband, and obviously a brave man.