Civil War Letter 161St NYV Grand Ecore,La April 12Th 1864 GREAT BATTLE CONTENT

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Civil War Letter 161St NYV Grand Ecore,La April 12Th 1864 GREAT BATTLE CONTENT:
$1000.00

This is for one outstanding letter from joseph f Philp a soldier from 161st New York volunteers company B.

Letter is fully transcribed exactly the way he wrote it. Spelled the way he did spaced the way he did so it may be a little slow to read. He is referring to the battle of Mansfield April 8th 1864 and the battle of pleasant hill the next day. This battle was commanded by general Nathaniel Banks for the union and general Richard Taylor for the confederates. He mentions general banks commanding in person both days of battle and that he came by to commend the galant New York men. Joseph joined into the battle of Mansfield along w the 161st in what I believe was the 2nd phase of battle of Mansfield. And fought thru the full battle of pleasant hill. Was a tough battle for both sides losing many men. Union was pushed out of pleasant hill back to grand Ecore where this letter was written and the union never returned for there attempt to make it to shreveport to capture it. Which is most likely the reason the war never reached the state of texas.

The 161st also had fought in the siege of port Hudson and many other battles afterwards.

Joseph survived the whole war moving back home and living a full life. He passed away in the early 1920\'s.

This is a real piece of history in itself. At the end of the letter you\'ll notice 1st,2nd and 3rd page side. This is where he wrote along the side of paper using every inch of room he could to describe to his parents what had happened. The letter and envelope itself are in very nice condition. Please enjoy reading!

Grand Ecore la Tuesday

April 12 1864

Dear parents

It is with

Pleasure that I endeavor to

Say a few words to you in

Reply to your most welcome

Letter of March 20th I was glad

To find that you were all wel

It only came about an hour

Ago I have just come off of pic

Ket or I would of written to you

Today we came here last night

Since I wrote to you last or sent

You the paper we have marched

100 miles had 2 severe battles

And still I am alive and well

Enjoying myself first rate on

The 8th of April the 13th A. Corps

Were attacked by a force of Rebs 50

Miles from here we were about 44

Miles from here in camp about 4

O\'clock in afternoon when the news

Came to pull up stakes and go to re

Enforce the 13th A C the Rebs had

Of driven them back 3 miles also

All of the Calvary capturing a

Good number of them taking a good

Share of the Calvary train taking

24 pieces of cannon our troops

Were all panic stricen flying in

Every direction to get rid of the

Little leaders messengers that were

Sent after them in every direct

Tion. It all depended on the 17th

A C to check the pursuing Rebs

If possible it was a task for so

Small a forse all there was of us

Was 2 brigades the 1st & 2nd

Only 8 regiments out of our brg

Was left to guard the rear our brig

Ade was all New York men well

We arrived to the spot about 5\'oclock

And battle commenced our regt was in

Advance we were called on to move

To the front we were right on the

Rebs before they were aware of it

About 8 rods apart they did not ex

Pect us they were in the woods we

Opened fire on them they returned

Fired very vigorously we remained

There 7 minutes until they flanked

Us we had to move back in side

Of the line of battle by that time

They were prepared to meet the force

Perhaps you will think we did not

Loose many men in so short a time

With all we lost 70 men

Killed and wounded and missing that is

A good many for one regt to loose

In a copple of ours for after we

Moved back we were not done

Yet well as as I was agoing to tell

You we stopped in their wild

Career they did not come any further

I tell you as we had but a small

Force & the reb had such a large

One we retreated back 15 miles

That night starting about 11 o\'clock

They were not aware of our leaving with

Day light when they started in their persuit

Of us but we were too much for them

We got to pleasant hill a large

Plain where we would have equal

Chance for our lives well soon after

We got there they come thundering

Down after us yankies but alass for

Them it was a sad day for them

This was on the 9 there was some figh

Ting all day about 15 minutes to 4

We were attacted by them a brisk

Cannonading they endeavored to flank

Us on right & left they were shure

Of us most too shure but they fail

Ed in every point we whiped them

It was a general battle the largest

One ever known in L-a we got some

Over 1,000 prisoners 12 pieces of

Cannon they had had 3 killed to

Our 1 the battlefield was covered

It was a sad night it was the

Only one I ever saw to be a battle

Field it was said that the Rebs had

35,000 we did not have over half

That number but we had a chance

For our lives we had reenforcements

Of the 16th A C we fight to win or die

If we had if been whiped it would

Of been a heavy loss to the govern

Ment for the Rebs would of got us

All before we could of got reenforce

Ments they retreated that night the

16 A C was left there to berry the

Dead I have not heard how many we

Lost there our regt did not loose but

6 men that day we lost in both

Day 76 men more than any other

Regt here we have praize & honnor

Fir what we done on the 8th our com

Lost 4 wounded 4 missing H T Clark

Of altay is missing I think he was shot

Dead the first day dear parents

I put my trust in god what incour

Aged me in the midst of lead was

Looked up and saw the new moon over

My right shoulder. I was glad to hear

From marier tell her she must take a

Porsion of this for herself it it now

10 o\'clock pm & I am tired after march

Ing from day to day. D.C. Is getting better

I heard from him today he is in hospital

In New Orleans

First page side:

Dear parents do not send me any thing i am much oblige to you the

Same I can do without I do not know the reason of our coming back here

Only that the mere wants regt & to get supplies

We had for four days were

Hard tak & water?

& no a half of that

But when duty calls

We must not complain

It does no yous Banks

Commanded in person

In the last two

Battles I have confiden

Ce in him our Col

Had two horses shot

In first fight the

Gen came & praised

Us tonight for our

Galant ny & good

Conduct, our figh

Ting is not done yet

In my opinion do

Not worry about me

If I fall think I

Fell doing my duty to

My country as I were called upon

To do J F philp

2nd page side:

The Rebs are concentrating there forse to meet us the talk is

That shreves port was taken I hardly believe it write soon so good bye

3rd page side:

Give my love to all enquiring friends tell them they

Are not forgoten although I am surrounded by the dim? Of battle