Winch Family - Samuel Winch stepson - Civil War Letter

I received this letter from, I think, "The Strawberry Kid" who resides in or around Denver Colorado. She was one of the few people who was interested in the Winch Family Line. She sent me this copy as she was unable to care for her disabled child and continue with her genealogy searching. I wish to thank her at this time for sending this to me.

This letter was written by one of the sons of Samuel Winch's 3rd wife, Anne Meadows. Anne survived Samuel by an unknown number of years. It is transcribed as the soldier Orvil wrote it.

This letter documents his brother's death at Shiloh Battlefield, in Hardin County, Tennessee on April 6 to 7 1862.

This letter reads as follows: Camp Pilsbury April 14th 1862

    Dear Mother I take the opportunity to inform you of the Death of your Son Orvil who was killed on Sunday the 6th day of April. I suppose you have already hird of the great Battle with comenced on Sunday and lasted until tuesday at noon on Sunday we were drove untill noon and let them bar until monday morning when wee got Reinforsements from Nashvil when wee drove them they got into our tents and took all wee had that was valuable. it has been one of the hardest battles ever fought in AMerica I do not want to witness another such a one our los was 20,000 killed and wounded or missing theres was 85,000 killed and Prisoners Orvil did go into the weeld wright so he was one gard untill wee had to retreat - the  droped back 1mile and a 1/2 when they made a stand along with the [41 ikk] they in ambush for an hour but there [?] was not large enough they got round each of us when Orvill was Raising to get another

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

fire at them a ball struck in the head hedided instantly it going in one ear and coming out the other it a lonesome time fore me now I was walked down by a cannon ball it Shocked one bere very bad I am getting sum I ges I shal get able to deuty these  [?] orde [?] to us to day to selerbrate the 14th day of April as a great day of civtory of the battles of Perige iland no [?] and the Battle of Pitsburg wee had by our Chaplin- I have no more news to write So good by hopeing that- you are well the from your Son Albert

Camp Pitsburg Tenn

Co H 16th Reg W.V

For more information on the battle of Shiloh go to:https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/shiloh

I could not find either of these brothers in Fold3.

©All rights reserved by pathways in Genealogy. 2018 - 2025. No part of this website/blog may be reproduced without the express written permission from the owner.