A Not Civil War Blog About My Grandfather in World War II

Price Kent

       My last living grandparent was Price Kent, my dad's dad. I was 13 years old at the time of his death. He was born on September 21, 1907 (ironically my mom's dad was born on September 21, 1904 and my birthday is September 25, 1968) in Colbert County, Alabama. His mother died on April 14, 1915, he was seven years old, the oldest of four. 

        The two oldest children, my grandfather and his brother Uncle Herman lived with their dad who worked for T.V.A. His father was Clarence Hartwell Kent who helped work on Wilson Dam which was began in 1918 and completed in 1924. The two youngest children, my uncle Burnice and Aunt Elsie were sent to Clarence's in-laws and raised by his deceased wife's mother and father, John Alexander Osborn and Mary Elizabeth Keenum Osborn. 

John Osborn (standing at right) and Mary Keenum (standing next to John)

       He would join the navy in 1944 at the age 37. He told a funny story about how he got in the navy. He said he stood in line with everyone that had been drafted. Everyone of them was eighteen years old and everyone of them asked for the navy. Not a one of them got the navy. When asked what he wanted, he replied, "It don't matter to me." The sergeant looked at him and said, "You volunteered didn't you?" Price replied, "Yes I did." The sergeant started marking on his paper and said, "You're in the navy."

       At the age of 37, my grandfather became a seaman although he couldn't swim, he could dog paddle a little and entered World War II. He was assigned duty aboard the U.S.S. Escalante. This ship was a tanker that fueled other ships at sea. My grandfather would join her for her second cruise to the Pacific Ocean. They passed through the Panama Canal and on toward Pearl Harbor. They saw action at Luzon, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and entered Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremonies. 

AO-70 U.S.S. Escalante on June 26, 1944. My dad was 18 days old when this photo was taken.

       He told me that the Escalante fueled a lot of ships, but one he remembers in particular was the U.S.S. Alabama. I searched the records and found that they actually fueled the Alabama on August 21, 1945. He often told me that his job when at battle stations was to load one of the weapons, but never fired the weapon himself. Fortunately they never saw any action because a tanker is no place to be in combat. The United States only lost six tankers to enemy action in World War II. Paw Paw Kent as I called him said that he remembered a Japanese Kamikaze crash his plane into an island nearby because he thought it was a ship. Another scare came when they happened up on a dead whale floating in the water at night and thought it was a mine. 

Damage to the U.S.S. Thornton caused by the Escalante late in the war. My grandfather never mentioned a collision to me.

       He told me another great story about life aboard the ship. He said on Sunday's the enlisted men had the day off. He was always a hard working farmer and was walking around the ship bored on Sunday afternoon. He came up on an officer working on something on the deck. Paw Kent had nothing better to do, so he helped the young officer fix whatever it was he was working on. He said, "After that day, I had it made. That officer took good care of me. I went around the ship greasing door hatches and things like that." He'd had no idea that his kind act would benefit him in any way. He taught me how they fueled other ships. He said they would get withing a hundred feet and shoot a line to the other ship. That ship would attach cables or ropes to that line and they would pull those back to the tanker. They would then attach the fuel hoses to those lines and the ship would drag the hoses back and place them in the tanks. The tanker would then pump fuel through the hoses and refuel the ship.

AO-53 fueling a ship at sea. This picture helps you to understand how they fueled another warship.

       My dad says that not long after returning from the war, my grandfather began to have blood in his urine. This went on from about 1947 until the mid-seventies. He finally went to the V.A. hospital in Memphis, Tennessee (I still remember my dad and I taking him there). I still remember us seeing a hawk fighting several crows in a field along side the road and us pulling the car to the roadside to watch. I was about six or seven at the time, but remember it like it was yesterday. I had no idea what cancer was at that time. I had lost my mom's dad at age 5 and her mom at age 7. Dad's mom had bone cancer and died when I was 10. My grandfather finally died of bladder cancer on March 11, 1979. I was 13. My Uncle Lawrence used to tell me he believed that he got that cancer in Japan. He said my grandfather had told him they'd sent him ashore to help clean up the atomic bomb damage and that's where he would receive his death sentence. I have yet to verify this part of the story because the building in St. Louis that housed the navy records burned. I would like to know what medals he was due and receive those also. I have the flag that draped his casket in my dining room on top of my wife's piano. 

       I've told my oldest son Chase, who is now 13, he needs to ask all the questions he can think of to his grandparents because once they are gone, there will be no one left to answer them. I can think of a million questions I should have asked now, but it's too late now.

Betrayed: An Excerpt From My Upcoming Book

June 14, 1912

Brick, Mississippi

       The boy slowly made his way up the dust-covered road toward the shack on top of the hill. He had spent a week trying to work up the courage to visit the old man who lived up here. He paused and looked back at the town below. The view was breathtaking for a ten-year-old boy.

       His school teacher, Miss Harman, was the reason he was coming up here today. She’d taught her class about the war that had ravaged this country almost fifty years ago. Until that day, he had never imagined men fighting a war on the very land where he lived. He’d asked around town and no one was able to tell him what had happened here during the war. One name kept coming up though. They called him Old Man Saunders. Everyone said the old recluse had lived here his entire life and would probably be able to tell him anything he’d want to know.

He stood there staring down at the town watching people going about their busy lives. No one seemed to care what had happened here before them. He found that hard to fathom.

       He glanced over his shoulder at the dilapidated shack on top of the hill. He dreaded going up there, but he was determined. All the kids in town said the old man was crazy. They said he kept a shotgun at his side at all times, just to shoot trespassers.

       He took a deep breath and continued on up the hill. Old Man Saunders sat on the front porch in a rocking chair. He wore an old pair of overalls with nothing underneath. When the boy got close enough, he could see tobacco stains on the old man’s bare feet.

       The boy eyed the shotgun propped against the wall behind the old man. A shudder hung at an odd angle from the window. The one on the other side had long since disappeared.

       “Miss…Mister Saunders,” the boy stuttered, betraying his nervousness.

Saunders eyeballed the boy for a long moment. “That shore is some purdy red hair. Almost shines out in that sun. I ain’t seen hair that red in years.”

       “Thank you,” the boy didn’t quite know how to take him.

       “What’s your name, boy?” Saunders leaned forward and spat a stream of tobacco juice across the porch. Tiny clouds of dust rose from the impact in the dry soil.

       “I’m Charles Rich, sir,” the boy kept his head down, hands stuffed into large pockets. “Everybody calls me Charlie.”

      “Ain’t your pa Thomas Rich?” Saunders wiped his mouth. Tobacco juice stained his bare arm.

       “Yes sir,” Charlie glanced up. He still wasn’t sure how to take the old man. He’d heard too many stories about him. The boys at school said he had gone insane because he had lost his entire family during the war.

       “I know ʼim,” the old man managed a small grin. “He come up here and seen about my arthritis.”

       Charlie saw Saunders grin, and smiled back. He hadn’t known his dad tended to Mister Saunders. Strange how he had never mentioned it before. He said,          “Yeah, his daddy was a doctor also. They say he fought in the Civil War.”

       “Hmmph,” the old man replied. He stopped grinning. Charlie wondered what he’d said. Saunders looked down at his feet. His face now wore a sad expression.

Charlie quickly added, “I hope I’m not bothering you, sir. I came up here to see if you could tell me about the war.”

       “The war?” Saunders’s eyebrows shot up. “I figured a boy your age would be more interested in that boat that sunk a couple months ago. What’s the name of it?”

       “The Titanic,” Charlie replied. He was surprised the old man had even heard of it.

       “I hear’d about it in the journals,” Saunders shot another stream of tobacco juice off the porch. “Great loss of life is what it said. It weren’t nothing compared to the war though.”

       Charlie stepped closer to the porch. He figured this was his chance. He would make his play. The old man would either tell him about the war or send him home. He said, “I can’t find anyone that can tell me what happened around here during the war. Miss Harman, my teacher, taught us a few things, but she doesn’t know a thing about what happened around here. She mostly talked about Gettysburg and Vicksburg and what a great man Abraham Lincoln was.”

       Saunders grimaced. “This Miss Harman ain’t from around these parts, is she?”

       “No sir,” Charlie smiled. He had expected this kind of reaction from the old man. “I think her family moved here from Indiana.”

       “Look, boy,” Saunders pointed toward the porch, “you better come on in here out of that sun before you blister. Ya’ll fair skinned redheads get burned too easy. I used to have a cousin with the same color hair as you. When we was kids and playing out in the sun, he would get so blistered that his ears would peel off. Now, back when we was boys, the Mexican War was a being fought. We marched all over these here hills and hollers. Bet we killed a million Mexicans. That boy always wanted to grow up and be a soldier, but his maw was agin it.”

       Charlie relaxed. He watched Saunders smile as he reveled in his childhood games. The old man seemed to be warming up to him. He wondered why he stayed up here to himself anyway. He acted as though he just wanted some company. John Tucker had told him that Saunders even had his groceries delivered up here to keep from having to come into town and be around people.

       He stepped onto the porch and looked around. Junk was piled everywhere, but there were no more chairs. Saunders stood up and began to dig through a pile of garbage and pulled out an old bucket. He flipped it over and sat it down beside his rocking chair.

       Charlie took a seat on the bucket and waited. Saunders stared down the hill toward the town. After a long moment he said, “Don’t know much to tell you really.”

       “Were there any battles fought around here?” Charlie was on the edge of the bucket eagerly waiting.

      “If you mean battles like with armies and such,” Saunders began to slowly shake his head, “we had one nice skirmish that I can remember. It was right down there in town.”

       “Oh,” Charlie looked down, his face betraying his disappointment. “Dad says my grandpa was a doctor in the war. Do you remember what he did?”

       “I reckon he went up to Jackson in sixty-three when Grant was a throwin’ his weight around central Mississippi.” Saunders spat, sniffed, and wiped at the tobacco juice on his chin. “I hear’d he did some amputatin’ and such ʼbout that time.”

       Charlie looked a little let down. He asked, “So we didn’t have nobody from here fight in the war?”

       Saunders’s eyebrows shot up. He laughed and said, “Well, now, I didn’t say that, now did I?”

       “No sir,” Charlie smiled. “Did you fight?”

       “Most all of us that was of age fought.” Saunders raised his chin. He had a proud look on his face. He said, “The boys from Brick, Mississippi, formed Company H, Sixth Mississippi Infantry. I still remember all the ladies a crying as we marched out of town. You know when they’s a war, all young men must go.”

       Charlie’s eyes grew wide. He waited for the old man to continue, but Saunders was deep in thought. Charlie said, “Tell me all about it.”

       “Ain’t much to tell ya,” Saunders’s expression changed to sadness. He looked down at the ground just in front of the porch. “There was thirty of us went up to Shiloh in sixty-two. The whole regiment attacked this little old bald hill. There was a little over four hunnerd in the regiment. It didn’t last five minutes. Anyway, thirty of us in Company H went in and only five came out. The rest were either killed, wounded, or missin’. Just like that and our war service with the Sixth Mississippi was over.”

       “That’s it?” Charlie looked incredulous.

       “That’s it,” Saunders replied. He rubbed the stubble on his chin while he studied the expression on Charlie’s face. “I suppose I could tell you ʼbout the best soldier I ever knowed. He fought through the whole war. He started out a lieutenant.”

       “Sure,” Charlie was back up on the edge of the bucket.

       “Ain’t gonna be able to tell it all in one day. You’ll have to come by from time to time and visit a spell. I don’t get much company up here.” Saunders spat another stream of tobacco juice off the porch.

       “Sure, I’ll come every day if you want,” Charlie looked as though he were about to explode with excitement. He watched Saunders’s eyes as he continued to rub his chin. The old man was in deep thought now. He had just gone back to 1862.

       Saunders said, “Our story starts in Corinth, Mississippi, up in the northeast part of the state….”

The Myth of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

       I can't help but be amazed at the people that still proclaim Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain the hero of Gettysburg. I understand that all men who fought well in that war were hero's, but what made Chamberlain the hero he is today? Let's take a look at one of my favorite books called These Honored Dead by Thomas Desjardin. He covers many of the misled beliefs dealing with the Battle of Gettysburg and what caused these beliefs to become so ingrained in our history. 

       Desjardin tells us how Ken Burns is the man that made the legend of Chamberlain what it is today. The famous charge that Burns portrays Chamberlain as ordering never occurred. Desjardin says, "Even that in his lifetime Chamberlain repeatedly denied ordering a charge."

       He goes on to say, "To say that Chamberlain saved the Union Army at Gettysburg is to ignore the 15,000 or more men held in reserve in close proximity to Little Round Top." Basically speaking, Ken Burns hollywooded up the film to make Chamberlain the hero that he wanted him to be. Because of Ken Burns and the movie Gettysburg based on the Michael Shaara book The Killer Angels, Chamberlain is so often used in sermons and classrooms as a great American hero. So what are the facts of Chamberlain and his fight at Gettysburg?

       

Because no one has been able to understand what type hat Chamberlain wore at Gettysburg, he has been depicted in every painting as being without a hat, another myth dealing with Chamberlain and Gettysburg. 

       Even further is the point that Chamberlain had been promoted to colonel the day before the battle, making him the lowest colonel in seniority in the entire Federal Army of around 90,000 men. He was extremely sick at Gettysburg, running a fever because of malaria and with chronic diarrhea. Nothing like what people who watched the movie picture him like today. 

       Desjardin goes further with the legend of Chamberlain. He says, "Legend tells us - five regiments of Confederates had fled in its path (20th Maine), leaving four or five hundred prisoners in Chamberlain's care, among them some of the most battle hardened men in Lee's army. The truth of the matter is that Chamberlain was attacked by one regiment, the 15th Alabama Infantry commanded by Colonel William C. Oates. So how many men did Oates lose in the fight with Chamberlain?

       When we break down the numbers, Oates Alabama regiment lost 167 men. That number includes killed, wounded, and captured. That number is far short of the 400 prisoners of legend. The 47th Alabama (the 15th Alabama was the extreme right of the line there was no regiment to it's right), to the left of the 15th Alabama had only lost 64 men in killed, wounded, and captured. If you were to say all these casualties were captured, which is ridiculous because Oates said the blood of the dead and dying stood in puddles on the rocks, you still don't have 400 prisoners captured by Chamberlain, but 231. How many men attacked Chamberlain's position?

       

William C. Oates

       We know that William C. Oates claimed he entered the fight at Gettysburg with 644 men, but since that time we know he had just a little over half that figure. Most historians believe Oates miscalculated his strength because he was in an argument with his corps commander Lieutenant General James Longstreet. Witnesses to the fight have all called his 644 man regiment theory as ridiculous. Most historians believe the number to be between 380 men to 400 men at most, a few say as much as 500, but witnesses claim this number too high. How many men did Chamberlain have?

       Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain the newly promoted colonel had about 358 men at Gettysburg. He wouldn't have had but about 250 had not the rebellious members of the 2nd Maine joined his ranks. I say joined, they were forced into his ranks and increased his numbers. So how many men were left when the fighting ended? My wife heard a man tonight claim that Chamberlain began the battle with a thousand men and ended the battle with 80 men and captured 400 prisoners. Let's find the true answer. 

       Of the 358 men engaged, protected by a stone wall against a regiment of about equal numbers only lost 130 killed and wounded. William Oates said that he ordered his men to retreat when the fighting eased up because of heavy casualties and lack of ammunition. His men had marched about 20 miles that morning to reach the field and had sent part of the regiment with canteens to obtain water because they were out. These men didn't return with the canteens in time, so Oates men entered the fight without water on an extremely hot July day. The number that Chamberlain claimed he had captured were about 50 men and those were the wounded that could not escape. 

       What truly made Chamberlain a Civil War hero? He lived until 1914, almost 49 years after the war ended and during that long period of time, he wrote about all his great exploits and how he saved the day at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. He took 400 men and defeated a 400 man Confederate regiment that would have rolled up the Federal flank if they had broken through, although there were 15,000 Federal reserves in the vicinity. I'll buy that if you'll buy my nice ocean front property in Wyoming. 

       

       

Family History Letters 38

This is the last letter I have that is written during the Civil War. As sad as they have gotten it is probably a good thing. It's almost like the entire Burnett family was wiped out in the war. From September 1863 until March of 1864 they lost 3 brothers. Joel is still alive at this point and I have yet to find out if Moses is a brother or brother-in-law.

Alabama, Talladega County

This June the 26, 1864

Dear children, I once more take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well as common at this time hoping that these few lines will come to your distant hand and find you all well and doing well. I ain't anything strange to write to you at this time. We received Catherine's letter last night and we were glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well and you wanted us to write when we heard from the boys. We ain't heard from William but one time since he was taken a prisoner and you wanted know what barrack he was in. I don't know, he was taken the same time that Nicholas (Nicholas Michael, Private, Company F, 28th Alabama Infantry, brother-in-law to Alexander and Jeremiah Burnett) was and at the same place and we ain't heard from Joel and Moses in some time. We got a letter from Joel about three weeks ago but we heard since that they were all taken prisoner and I expect it is so or he is killed and Moses is taken prisoner. A man wrote Juda a letter since about him and Joel had got parted and you wanted to know how our corn looked, it is very small yet, but I think it will make corn yet and you wanted to know whether we have had any rain this month. We have been to wet to work part of the time and I will let you know that wheat crops ain't mighty good. They were injured by the wet weather and I will let you know that the yankee's has got Marietta and they will soon have Atlanta. They go where they please, they are fighting constant along that road and going on to Atlanta. We ain't heard from any other place in some time and I will let you know that times is mighty hard in this part of the country and they won't get no better till this war quits and then I am afraid they won't be much better and we want to know whether Catherine and Susey is a making crop this year or not and whether Catherine is at there place or not. We would be glad to see you and be with you, but it appears like that there is no chance for us to come and see you and if you can get the chance to come and see us and we want you to write as often as you can to let us know how you all are and the old woman says that she ain't got any boys. (They are all dead or a couple or still in the army.) She don't consider and she wishes that she was with you that she could see her blessed babies. So I will close by saying we still remain your father and mother till death. Pleasant and Martha Burnett to Catherine and Susey Burnett. 

Family History Letter 36 and 37

You may wonder why I'm in such a hurry to post all these letters. A good buddy of mine named Wheeler Pounds is writing a trilogy about the Cherokee Indians from Northern Alabama and he's come to the Civil War part of his book. He is using these letters to help understand the way things were in the Civil War for the common person in the South. So, now I'm nearing the end of the letters, only a few more. There are more letters but they are after the war and have little to do with the war at all. 

When this letter begins in June of 1864, A.H. Burnett is gone probably killed at Chickamauga, Jerry Burnett is dead from disease in March of 1864 and their little brother William Burnett has entered the 28th Alabama Infantry (probably conscripted) at age 18 and been captured at Ringgold Gap, Georgia. He was sent to Rock Island Prison Camp in Illinois where he dies in late March of 1864, the same month as his brother Jerry. The family doesn't yet know that William is dead. I'm not sure if they know about Jerry yet or not. 

Alabama, Talladega County

This June the 9, 1864

Dear children, I now take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at this time as common, hoping that these few lines may come to your hand and find you all well and a doing well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you that is strange. Catherine, we received your letter and we was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well and you wanted to hear from the boys. We ain't heard from them in some time. Joel (Private, Company G, 31st Alabama Infantry) we heard from him about two weeks ago. We ain't heard from William (captured on November 26, 1863 and sent to Rock Island Prison Camp, he had died on March 31, 1864 there of unknown causes, he was dead 9 days before this letter was written) but one time since the yankee's got him and they say that the yankee's has got Moses (I have not located Moses yet). We ain't got no letter from him in a month and you wanted us to write how we made out for provisions. We have got corn enough to do us and we got milk and butter a plenty, but bacon is scarce and I will make some wheat. I have about seven acres sowed, but I don't get but half and (unreadable). I want to know whether you draw any money or not, and if you don't you go to the probate judge and see if there ain't money for the women sent to him, for the women gets help here. (This makes it pretty clear that Alexander is dead.) They get money and corn and salt and I hear that the soldiers is a writing that they think they will be at home by the fourth of July and I wish it may be so. I want you to write as soon as you can to us and let us know all the news you can and I will let you know that wheat crops ain't (unreadable) in this part (unreadable) country were killed by the cold weather. they are too thin, it will be tolerable good grain wheat and corn crops is small, yet I ain't got a very big crop this year. I have about fourteen acres in corn and I want to know whether you are making a crop or not and we hear that they yankee's is not far off and I don't know whether it is so or not. The (unreadable) the old woman wants to know how many children you have, a their names and their ages. So I will close my letter for this time by saying we still remain your father and mother until death. To Catherine and Susey Burnett. Pleasant and Martha Burnett. Write as often as you can and I will.

State of Alabama, Talladega County

June the 5, 1864

Dear sisters, I again with pleasure seat my self to inform you that I am well as common, hoping when this comes to your hand it will find you well and doing well. I ain't got anything to write to you that would interest you at this time, more than we received your kind letter last night. I was glad to hear from you one time more. Catherine, I am sorry for you and any other women in your fix and Susey (Her husband Jeremiah Burnett died on March 6, 1864 from disease) too. I hope God may be with you both and you may never suffer. I am making out very well considering the bad accident that happened to us. Catherine, I ain't got but one letter from William since he was taken prisoner. He was in (unreadable) have to close for this time. I remain your sister. Ly. E. Burnett to Catherine and Susey Burnett.

Family History Letter 34 and 35

State of Alabama, Talladega County

July the 5, 1863

Dear sister, I now seat myself to let you know that we are all well as common hoping these few lines may find you all well. I ain't nothing strange to write to you at this time. We receive a letter from A.H. Burnett the 27 of June, he was well at that time. He said they was expecting a fight there in a few days, he was at Shelbyville, Tennessee. He said the yankee's was in eight miles there. We will start a letter to him, when this starts to you. I had like to forgot to say anything about my fine girl. You and Jerry and Susy (my grandparents) letter and it will tell you all about it. I will have to stop for (unreadable) back of some Jo. No more this time only I still remain your brother and sister till death. To Catherine Burnett. William and Yentisher Burnett. I want you write every chance you get, this is the last paper that I have. Juda and Moses is well and wants to see you and the children mighty bad Jo. No more this time, Juda Freeman.

State of Georgia, Camp near Chattanooga

September the 4, 1863   (This letter was written 15 days before the Battle of Chickamauga, the 28th Alabama Infantry lost 172 men in the battle.)

Dear companion it is with great pleasure that I seat myself this evening to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well as common hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you at present only times is hard here. I received your kind letter which was mailed August the 26 which stated that you was all well but James. I was sorry to hear the he was sick. Nicholas and Jo is tolerable well. Jo ain't got start yet though he's better than he has been. Catherine you wrote last that you hadn't got the things that I sent by Mr. Hamilton. Catherine, we get a plenty of good water and corn bread and a half pound of bacon (unreadable) a letter from father the other day which stated that the was all well. The wrote to me if they was in my place, they would run away if the could get away before they would stay there and work on what I got to eat. But, I don't think that I will desert them yet awhile the want of something to eat. If I ever run away it will be for the bad treatment I get. They are very tight on the men now. L.E. Gilbert is our captain, we elected John Compton * (more below) our captain, but Colonel Reed ** (more below) said he shouldn't be captain and we found out that he was going to put a man to it his self and we got a petition and got the company to sign it and presented it to the colonel and he said if it was the wish of the company, he would (unreadable) him captain. We have been (unreadable) right here for over a week but (unreadable) think they will fight (unreadable) though they may fool me. They say that there is about 70 thousand yankee's cross the river at Bridgeport. I heard a courier say so this morning myself. John Thomas you and Martha Elizabeth (unreadable) take good care of Sarah Almeada Frances and divide pretties with her, for Pa can't get many pretties here. I would be glad to get a heap of pretties for you and to get to come and fetch them to you. Catherine you never wrote whether you got the (unreadable) dollars they (unreadable) divide for the company and they was too small and I thought about you going barefooted last winter and I just took them and Mr. Hamilton came in a few days. I knew if you don't need them now, you will this winter. (In other words he sent his new pair of brogans to his wife claiming they were too small. He would do without in order for her to have shoes.) So nothing more at present, only I still remain your loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett. Write soon and often, take good care of yourself and my sweet babes. So good bye. 

* John S. Compton, 2nd Lieutenant, Company F, 28th Alabama Infantry, 42 years old at this time.

** John C. Reid, Colonel, 28th Alabama Infantry, General Manigault calls him efficient and attentive to his duties. 

(I noticed that this was the first time he wrote "So good bye" and the sad part is this is just two weeks before the bloody battle at Chickamauga. There are no more letters from Alexander H. Burnett to Catherine. It makes one wonder if he knew it was the end?)

Family History Letter 33

State of Tennessee, Camp near Chattanooga

August the 27, 1863

Dear companion, it is with great pleasure that I seat myself this one time more to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well as common hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you at present only times is hard here. We are camped on the side of Lookout Mountain a guarding the gap. We have been looking for the yankee's ever since last Sunday but they ain't come yet. I received your kind letter yesterday baring the date 17 of August which stated that you was all well. I was the gladdest in the world to get it for I hadn't heard from you since Jo left. You wanted to know whether I sent you a by Baker or not. I didn't for I thought was uncertain when the it come or not. He was such a (unreadable) and I (unreadable) Catherine. I sent you a fine comb and a half a paper and pen and 2 finger rings and a little heart and another little trick for Sarah A. Frances by Mr. Morrow, he said he would carry them to Jasper as soon as he got home and I sent you 25 dollars by Mr. Hamilton and a pair of shoes and a half square of paper and paper of big needles. Catherine, I am very sorry to hear that you think the yankee's is in there at Jasper. It is bad enough to think of them being here, let alone being there a near you all. Our regiment is on picket about 4 miles from Chattanooga at the gap of Lookout Mountain. We have been here 4 days and nights and I don't know how long we will  be here. Captain Gilbert * (see more below) says that we will guard this gap till the fight is settled here. I am in hopes they won't fight here at all though that looks very gloomy at this time. The signal men says that the yankee's is just on yon side of the river. There (unreadable) of them making their way up the river on yon side so I will come to a close by saying I (unreadable) remain you loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett.

Loveginsky E. Gilbert, Captain of Company F, he was captured November 23, 1863 at Lookout Mountain and held at Johnson's Island for the remainder of the war. He was 34 years old at the time of his capture, light complected with dark hair, hazel eyes and stood 5 foot 7 inches in height. He lived in Eutaw, Alabama. 

Family History Letter 32

State of Tennessee, Camp near Chattanooga

August the 22, 1863

Dear companion, it is with great pleasure that I seat myself this evening to droop you a few lines to let you know that I am in common health at this time, hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write only the yankee's come to the river and threw (cannon) balls into the town and shot a little girls leg off and killed several others. I don't know how many men we have nor a (unreadable) six miles from town down the river towards Bridgeport, they say that the yankee's is crossing the river at Bridgeport by Thompens. Catherine, I hardly know where to tell you to send your letters but send them to Chattanooga. Catherine, I ain't heard a word from you since Jo come. I never wanted to hear from you as bad in my life. They say that Rosecrans has give Bragg till tomorrow morning to get the women and children out of town. I am mighty afraid that we will get into it here yet, from the way they are doing. Jo is down with his back and hips. He can't sleep of a night. Nicholas is well as common. He wrote a letter the other day and I didn't have time to write then. Catherine write to me soon and often. Catherine I was mighty glad to see some of your hair and the childrens but I would be gladder to see you. You wanted to know whether they made the men work or not. They made some of them work. We told Stuart (probably John M. Stewart, Lieutenant of Company F) that he might do as he pleased but if they didn't put them all on a like, we wouldn't work a like. (In other words there has been some favorable treatment to certain men of the company.) There has been two left our camp, John Bugsby (probably John Busbee, private, Company F) and Bill Burrel (I have yet to find a name even close to this one.) They left while Mr. Hamilton was here. There was 5 left Company J day before  yesterday as we come down here. General Hindman has made application to General Bragg to furlough every tenth man till he goes through the army. Catherine, God to your soul, I got your letter that you sent by Jo, but I didn't have the furlough then so, the yankee's is going to make another raid through Alabama and the talk is that our brigade and (unreadable) will go to Gadsden. If they do try to go through there we have role call every three hours. We have got three days rations cooked and holding ourselves in readiness to start at a moments warning. So nothing more at present, only I remain your loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett.

Family History Letters 30 and 31

Flag of the 28th Alabama Infantry

State of Alabama, Camp near Chattanooga                                         Letter 30

August the 9, 1863

Dear companion, much pleasure that I seat myself this evening to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am as well as common hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write at present only times is hard here. They give us a half a pound of bacon a week and three pounds of beef. They are a building 5 or 6 forts here. They work about 8 thousand men here every day. Catherine, I can't tell how bad I want to hear from you. I ain't got nary a letter from you in nearly three weeks. Catherine, I have got a fine comb and a half a paper of pens and too papers and two finger rings that I made myself and some other tricks for the children and I have got you a half a square of paper if I could send it to you and thirty dollars in money and I wish you had it. I am looking for Mr. Hamilton every day and if he comes I will send you a little money and a half a square of paper. I would send it now, but Mr. Morrow don't want to risk it. I can eat my rations and a dollar and a half a day we get 5 ounces of meat a week. The boys is running away every night. Lieutenant Tucker * (see more below) see run away from Company E and took a private with him. So no more at present only I still remain you loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett.

* William R. Tucker, 2nd Lieutenant, 42 years old at the time of this letter, he was court-martialed for advising and persuading a soldier to desert and was cashiered. He was dismissed from the service on August 25, 1863. 

State of Alabama, Camp near Chattanooga                                          Letter 31

August the 15, 1863

Dear companion it is with great pleasure that I seat myself this evening to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well as common, hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well and doing well. I ain't got anything strange to write at present only Jo has reached the camp's safe today. I was glad to see him Catherine. I got the things you sent by Mr. Hamilton. I sent you some things by Mr. Morrow. Write what you get from me. Catherine I was glad to hear that you and to hear that you was all well. I couldn't hardly read the letter Jo had. Catherine I will send you twenty-five dollars by Mr. Hamilton and a pair of shoes and with a square of paper of needles. Catherine I weight 169 pounds by the scales we have here. I can't write to day for nothing. Catherine send me some sacks the first chance you have, I want you and your Ma there to not to study about me deserting if I have to leave here, I will tell them when I leave. I will come to a close by saying I remain your loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett.

Ryan Petty Review: This is a Historian?

Civil War expert Ryan Petty

       I normally don't respond to reviews of my books. I've only received one bad review so far and it comes from a Civil War re-enactor and author from Texas named Ryan Petty. I think I understand this type of author clearly. I know I can't please everyone with my writing style and don't really care, but he decides to portray me as being ignorant about the commanding general of the campaign, Confederate General John Bell Hood. 

       Mr. Petty says he likes most Civil War novels, but found my book a stretch as he says, "All Civil War historians know (not debatable anymore) that Hood took control..." of the army and went on the offensive and got a lot of good men killed and wounded. He says that I attempt to portray Hood as someone misunderstood by modern day historians. He complains because I compare Hood to Lee and Jackson. He says, "That right there threw up a red flag up with me." He says, "The author does his best to disprove many facts that we already know about General Hood and I think that takes away from the book." 

       Well, since Mr. Petty is an expert on Hood, we would think he would tell us what is correct about the man, but he stops short by simply bashing me and my book. Basically, he is saying I don't have a clue. Thank goodness I have studied this subject for so much of my life or I wouldn't be able to provide my line of reasoning. 

       I never said that General Hood was comparable to General's Lee and Jackson. I simply stated that every move Hood made was an emulation of what he'd seen those two great officers do in previous battles. I will use maps to make my point for those like Mr. Petty who can't understand what they are reading. 

Lee and Jackson's flank attack at Chancellorsville.

       Lee decided at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863 that the best way to deal with a larger army was to keep it occupied with a small portion of his own army and send a corps around to attack an exposed flank. This was extremely successful. Of course it worked almost to perfection, so Mr. Petty would call this an excellent plan. 

Hood's plan for the Battle of Atlanta

       As you can see from the above map, Hood was using the same plan at Atlanta. he was sending Hardee's corps out to attack an exposed flank of Sherman's army to the east of Atlanta. Why did it not succeed the way Lee's had at Chancellorsville? It took Hardee over twenty hours to march the few miles and get into position. This occurred because of traffic jams, exhausted troops, and a sullen Hardee who resented taking orders from a much younger Hood. Hardee had been offered command of the Army of Tennessee twice and turned it down. Nevertheless, Hardee arrived five hours late and by that time the Federal line had been extended. Unlike General Lee, Hood didn't have a Jackson.

       Hood gets a lot of bad publicity because of the attack at Peachtree Creek. Most people haven't studied that battle obviously or they would understand that battle was planned by General Joseph E. Johnston prior to being relieved. Hood simply continued forward with Johnston's plan. In Richard McMurry's biography on General John Bell Hood, he tells about the Battle of Ezra Church. Hood gave Lieutenant General S.D. Lee an order to take his corps west of Atlanta and dig in on the Lick Skillet Road to stop Sherman's advance around the western side of Atlanta. Lee arrived short of the road to find Sherman's army already in possession behind strong breastworks. Without consulting with Hood what he should do, Lee orders his men advance in disjointed attacks and loses a lot of good men. 

       That brings us to Spring Hill. The plan Hood had at Spring Hill was excellent. It reminds us historians of the plan Lee had for Pope during the Second Manassas Campaign. He would send part of his army around Pope under Jackson and cut Pope's communications in an attempt to capture his entire army. The plan failed, but is considered a success because Lee finally did win the battle against Pope. 

       A Spring Hill, Hood actually went along with his flanking force to make sure everything was accomplished. He placed A.P. Stewart's Corps in a position to crash into Schofield's flank when he engaged Cheatham's Corps in retreat. It was a beautiful plan, but again Hood didn't have a Jackson. Hood arrived at Franklin upset that he couldn't get his subordinates to take the initiative or obey his orders. He orders a disastrous frontal assault. This same thing happened at Gettysburg with Lee. His subordinates failed him and he ordered a bloody frontal assault in the Federal center. I suppose Mr. Petty is correct. Hood wasn't in the same league as Lee and Jackson, but he made some of the same mistakes. 

       I could go on and on about the misconceptions about General Hood, but this is a blog and it would take a book's worth of writing to get my point across. Unfortunately, people like Mr. Petty wouldn't believe it because everyone knows without debate what an idiot Hood was a commander. The late historian Shelby Foote even stated that Hood was mistreated by history and Joseph Johnston was a worse general than Bragg. Too bad Mr. Petty didn't review his work and show us how dumb Shelby Foote really was. 

       I soon realized what I believe to be the case with Mr. Petty. He rates others books low to build up his own. I've met many people like him in life. I noticed that he even rated his own book a five star. I'm proud to say that I have never rated my own book and never will. Mr. Petty sounds like another man who used to camp and re-enact with my unit. He knew everything and could tell you so. He told me that his friends drive to Texas each year to urinate on General Hood's grave. I never replied to him the way I have Mr. Petty, but thought those friends must have a very powerful stream if they can stand in Texas and urinate on Hood's grave in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

       When Mr. Petty makes such absurd statements in his review, as he likes to say, "that right there threw up a red flag with me."

       

Family History Letters 28 and 29

Chattanooga, Tennessee

This the 26 of July, 1863

Dear wife and children, it is through the mercy of God that the present avails me the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am in tolerable health for a camp life, hoping these few lines will come safe to hand and find you all in the best of health. I ain't any thing of interest to write to at this time. I received a letter from you last Thursday bearing date the tenth and eleventh. I was glad to hear that you was all well as you was, but sorry to hear that you and Sarah was sick. I ain't time to write now. I started you a letter to you yesterday. No more but I still remain your loving husband till death. Nicholas Michael to wife and children.

State of Tennessee, Camp near Chattanooga

This the 26 of July, 1863

Dear companion it is with great pleasure that I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am in common health at this time. Hoping when these few lines comes to hand, they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you at present, only times is hard here. I just wrote you a letter the other day. I ain't got much to write to you at present. I thought that I had a good chance to send it to you and I want you to send me a letter back by Hamilton when he comes and send me all the good news you have. I can't tell what I would give if it was me a going to start home this morning with Mister Hamilton. They will be able for me to come after a while I think. They are furloughing some men. I ain't got time to write much now it is all to do in a minute, so I will come to a close by saying I remain your loving husband until death. This from A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett.

Family History Letters 26 and 27

State of Tennessee, Camp near Chattanooga

July the 5, 1863

Dear companion, it is with great pleasure that I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am in common health at this time, only I am nearly wore out. We have been a marching about 5 days and am now wore out. I ain't got anything strange or good to write, only we have got on your own side of the Tennessee River. We landed here about a hour ago, but I don't know how long we will stay here. We won't stay here about a day or two. I can't what we will do. I thought we would be in a fight last Wednesday, whether or not. But Bragg beat them to Chattanooga. I never have been so near run to death in my life. We run day and night nearly. Nicholas here with me, he's as well as common if he (unreadable) Catherine. I don't know where we will go but the talk is that we will go to the (unreadable) station. If you write to me before you get another letter from me, you had better direct it to Chattanooga. I can't tell you where we will go. We are as apt to go one way as another. Catherine, you must excuse me this time for I am very tired. I ain't heard from you in about 3 weeks, I want to hear from you, so had I want tell the truth I ain't got many letters from father in a long time. I must come to a close saying I remain your affectionate husband till death. A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett. Jesse Kitchens  (Jesse Kitchens, Sergeant, Company F deserted in June 1864 and was captured in 1865 by the Federal army and released) says to tell his folks that he is along and well as common.

State of Tennessee, Camp near Chattanooga

This the 17 of July, 1863

Dear companion, it is with great pleasure that I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am yet living, but I have been sick for a few days, thought I am a getting better. I received your very kind letter having date July the 3, which I thankfully received, which stated that you were all well. I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well. I received a letter from father the other day which stated that they was all well, but Williams wife. She has got a fine daughter, it was born June the 16. I haven't got anything strange to write to you. Times is very gloomy with us here, but looks like we have to give it up. The Yanks is taking everything they want. They run us on every side. The boys is getting very tired of this. They is slipping off every now and then. They have cut our rations down to a quarter of a pound of meat a day. We see here time here you needn't don't it. Catherine, you wrote that you had 13 dollars yet and that you wanted me to send you some money as soon as I could. I have got 20 dollars yet and if you need it, send me word in the next letter and I will send it to you. I have been in hopes that somebody would come out here from Walker so I could send it to you for I keep it here. I will spend it, I wish that you had it now. Money is worth nothing with us. They make us pay with it as water they say it ain't worth nothing here. At home I have spent 22 of my two last draws I made. Catherine, I never told you anything about the march, it the was the worst thing you ever saw, it was so bad that I can't you through travel with me from but if I could see you I could tell you a heap. They are building forts here as fast as they can. They had a dress parade the other night that all the men that (unreadable) has to do. 30 days fortifying duty building breast works and I was one of them they may just kiss when I can't. So that is enough of that subject. Catherine, I was very sorry to hear that hogs was all dying. Meat is scarce enough now. Tell Nicholas family that he is well, he is on fortifying today, building another fort. Nicholas thinks that his folks has forgot him. He ain't got nary letter from them in a month. Catherine, God forbid that this world should come to such a way as it has. Some of these boys went to town yesterday and they said there was about five hundred horses there and about the same of officers. Sergeant York (3rd Sgt. Thomas F.S. York, Company F, 28th Alabama Infantry, captured November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge and sent to Rock Island Prison Camp and released May 25, 1865) said he never saw the like in his life. They was all about half drunk. A word to the children, tell John Thomas and Martha that I want to see them and Sarah Almeada mighty bad and so I will come to a close by saying I remain your loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to Catherine Burnett, this yours truly.

Family History Letters 24 and 25

State of Tennessee, Bedford County

This the 7th of June, 1863

Wife it is once more with pleasure I seat myself this beautiful Sabbath evening to drop you a few lines to let you know that I was yet in the land of the living but not well. I have had a hurting in my side for about 10 days. I am getting some better of it and I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you at this time, only I (unreadable) letter this morning, which I (unreadable) with pleasure, which stated that you were all well. Catherine, I sent you a pen in a letter, I ain't got anything here (unreadable) dollars to 7 dollars (unreadable) tobacco 2 dollars a plug. Catherine, I spend my money faster than I can get it. You never (unreadable) you say whether you had any money or not. I was going to (unreadable) you wheat wasn't going to make anything. I thought that you wouldn't suffer for (unreadable) you didn't say whether you had any corn or not. I heard that Mister Hamilton was coming out here and if he does, I will send you a pen, comb, and finger ring that (unreadable) myself and make rings of the (maybe shells) they give us. Yankee's here now and have to go on guard (unreadable) day. We have been on picket a week. We heard that Robert Davis (unreadable) run away from the hospital (unreadable) I wanted to know whether (unreadable) had come here yet (unreadable) they ain't come here, nor I ain't got nary letter in two months (unreadable) to the (unreadable) again. Catherine, I ain't got much to write (unreadable) I have just took a slice of bacon and cornbread for dinner, we got meat enough for (unreadable) way. Catherine, I was sorry to hear that your collards was eat up. I don't want you to think that we get enough to eat. We get a pound and a half of meal and a half pound of bacon and a pound of beef. Catherine, I can't tell you how bad I want you and the children, I would give anything in the (world) to get to come home, thought I don't know that I ever will anymore. Tell my little man to be a good little man until I get to come to see him and be a good man to Martha and Sarah Almeada Frances for me until I come home. If I (unreadable) I want you to (unreadable) to eat some milk (unreadable) for me, when you write, write how you are a making out for corn. You don't write whether you have any meat or not. I want to know whether you have anything to eat or not. I wish that I was there, if I had to live on bread and water. I ain't heard from Josiah (unreadable) month. He wrote that he was on the mend and he had a thirty days furlough, he was going to start home then. Nicholas is well as common. Catherine, I want Susannah get a letter from Jerry write to me whether he has got out of that jail house or not (by this point he was back with his company for over two months). I reckon I must come to a close by saying I remain your loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to C. Burnett. My pen is bad, my ink is pale, my love to you, will never fail. So for well this time. A.H. Burnett.

State of Tennessee, Bedford County

This the 15 of June, 1863

Dear companion, it is with great pleasure that I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I ain't forgot you and to let you know that I am well as common hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all enjoying the same like blessing. I ain't got anything strange to write to you at this time, only we see a tough time here. We have been on picket 3 weeks today and we will stay here another week if no longer. They say the Yankee's is in 12 miles of here. I am afraid they will overrun us here if they come on us. They report that Rosecrans's has got a heavy force. Catherine, they shot two men the 13 of this month at Shelbyville for deserting. They have got Robert Davis in the guard house for running away from the hospital. They caught him at Blountsville, the conscript officer caught him and took him to (unreadable) and put him on the train and sent him to his command. I was on guard last night and I feel like writing. I ain't got nary letter from you in about ten days. I would be glad to hear from you. Nicholas is well, we ain't got nary letter from Jo (Josiah Whisenhunt) since the 26 of May. He stated that he was going to start home the 27 and he would write when he got home. Catherine, I can't tell you how bad I want to see you and the children. You can tell Miss Lindsey that Mister Lindsey is dead. He was started to the hospital about a week ago and we heard yesterday that he was dead. There is some sickness among us. We are in better health now than we were in the winter. I will come to a close by saying I remain your loving husband till death. This from A.H. Burnett to wife, when this you see, remember me.

Family History Letters 22 and 23

State of Tennessee, Bedford County

This May the 21, 1863

Dear wife it is with great pleasure I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that me and Nicholas is well as common only had colds. We ain't heard from Jo (Josiah Whisenhunt their brother-in-law) but once since he left here, he was getting better. Then I ain't got anything strange to write to you at present only times is hard here. We ain't had no battle here yet, nor no talk of none. We are going to have a barbecue here day after tomorrow. Our officers is a going to give the men a dinner. I received your letter that was dated the 9 of May, which stated that you were all well and I was glad to hear from you all and to hear that you was all well. Catherine I can't tell you how bad I want to see you and the children. I would give anything in the world that this war would come to a close, for I am getting very tired of it. Though I am in as good health as common and (unreadable) than I have been (unreadable) severe ear (unreadable) and the wound wasn't (unreadable) bad (unreadable) and a pain in my head (unreadable) nearly been past going. Catherine, I was very sorry to hear that your wheat wasn't going to make anything. Catherine you wrote a while back that you wanted me to send you some paper and some pens. I didn't have but three or four sheets, I sent you some in three letters and as to pens, I didn't have nary one. I will send you a pen in this letter. Pens and pencils is 25 cents a piece here, paper from 2.50 to 5.00 dollars a square and hard to get at that. Catherine, I have spent twenty-seven dollars since I sent that to you, it looks like I will spend my money faster than I make it here. I am afraid that I won't the chance to send you anymore. Shortly we will draw, in a few days I will draw 22 dollars. Catherine you wanted to know whether Dave Rolands told me that he sent them to you by Bill Williams. He said nothing about his wife. He said I sent the money to your wife by Bill Williams when I asked him about it. Catherine, tell John Thomas and Martha that Pa says that he wants to see them and Sarah Almeada Frances mighty bad, though there ain't no chance now, if ever. Tell John Thomas and Martha to be good children for Pa loves them. Catherine, my God bless you and your children. I want you to send me word how much money you have got. You ain't said whether you paid Mr. Kitchens or not. You wrote that you was going to pay him and if you did you ain't got much money now. So I will come to a close by saying I remain your loving husband until death. A.H. Burnett to wife. Turn over and read for mother.

State of Tennessee, Bedford County

May the 21, 1863

Dear mother it is with pleasure I seat myself write you a few lines to let you know that I am in as good health as you ever saw me. Me and Nicholas is pleasanter than you  ever saw us. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you. Times is hard here. Mother I want you to quit doing all kinds of work, such as cutting wood and rolling logs. You will kill yourself, you must remember you ain't young, you have got children that is young, they ought to do such work as that. When you go at that, think of me and quit. that for my sake and your good, although I like to hear tell of work. I must come to a close by saying I remain your affectionate son until death. A.H. Burnett to Sarah Michael (Catherine's mother).

Family History Letters 20 and 21

State of Tennessee, Bedford County

April the 16, 1863

Dear wife, it is once more with pleasure I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am in common health at this time hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you at present. Times is hard here. We got plenty of meat and bread and not much stomach to eat it. I received your letter this morning which was wrote the fifth of this instant which stated that you were all well and it give me great satisfaction to hear from you and to hear that you were well. I had began to think that you had forgot me. It had been so long since I got any letter from you. You wrote that you was on a trade. I think it is bad to trade a horse that ain't worth more than 50 dollars, the way times is now. Though it might be a good trade if you could make corn to feed with next winter. It might do very well, it might be a good trade anyhow. You do as you think best for I don't know that I ever will be there to need anything that is there. Catherine, I ain't got time to write much. Know we have got to go on in sections now. I can get cloths here cheaper than you can make them. You write that you want me to send you made knives I about (unreadable). See me chances now they ain't no antler tines after (unreadable). You wanted me to write the (unreadable words) a letter, I ain't got time now (unreadable words) them I say I will write again in a few days. Write to me as quick as you can. A.H. Burnett to wife. Tell John Thomas and Martha be good for me and I want to see them and Sarah Almeada Frances (unreadable) bad.

State of Tennessee, Bedford County

May the 2, 1863

Dear wife, it is with pleasure I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am in as good health as common, hoping when these few lines comes to hand, they may find you all well. I ain't got anything strange to write to you at present, only I was with a man that was taking the smallpox about ten days ago. I am afraid that I will have it. Me and him was detailed to cook for the sick. When they went on picket, me and him was cooking the (unreadable words) he was complaining for two or three days I was with him. Two days after he comes a broken out. I don't want you to grieve much, take it like I do. I take it all pain and easy. All that I can help studying about you and the children. I received two letters the 29 of April from you, that was dated the 10 and 18 which stated that you was all well and that gives me great satisfaction to hear from you and to hear that you and the next day I got a letter from father. The one that you sent to him to send to me, it stated that they was all well. You wrote that you wanted me to send my likeness to you. I will as quick as I can get it. You wrote that you wanted me to send you word how much money I drawed. I drawed 143 dollars, the first draw and 202 the next time. I have got 15 dollars, now I eat up 5 dollars a week, I give a dollar for a pound of peaches, and 2 for a dozen eggs, it looks like I can't keep money. You wanted to know what we had to eat. We have corn bread a plenty a half (lb) meat, enough. You wanted me to send you a pen, I ain't got none, worse more I can't get nary one. I will send you one and some paper as quick as I can get it. I will write you another letter in a few days more. So I must come to a close by saying. I remain your loving husband until death. A.H. Burnett to wife and children.

The Court Martial of Jerry Burnett

I thought at this point of my publishing my family history letters from the Civil War I should add the court martial trial of Jeremiah Burnett my third great grandfather. The trial happened about the point we are in the letters. It's not a part of the letters, but in the Confederate records and I'm extremely lucky to have them. There is a paper marked K that is missing from the court records and it would be very interesting to know what that paper contained. Whatever it was, whether a letter from his wife asking for help or perhaps having a sick child, the paper obviously saved his life as you can tell by listening to his defense in court. Without the letter, he would probably have been found guilty and shot. Here is the trial.

The Court martial of Jerry Burnett.

2^nd Lt. D.C. Jones Rice's Tenn. Artillery Co.

2^nd Lt. J.F. Thompson Owen's Ark. Artillery Co.

2^nd Lt. W.J. Winton Thrall's Ark. Artillery Co. (Judge Adv.)

The court after having read and reconsidered the proceedings in the case of Private Jerry Burnett of Captain A.J. Guttery's Company A, 13^th Battalion Alabama Partisan Rangers tried for desertion on the 22^nd day of January 1863 at Columbus, Mississippi have adopted the following as pensive and corrected copy of the same.

Proceedings of a general court martial held at Columbus, Mississippi by (unreadable) of the following order.

Dept. of Miss. And Ala.

Jackson, January 4, 1863

Special Order #4

A general court martial is hereby ordered to convene at Columbus, Mississippi on the 10^th of January 1863 at eleven o'clock A.M. Or as soon hereafter as practicable for the trial of such prisoners as may be properly brought before it.

Detain for the court

Major W.W. Guy Brigade Commissary

Major W.J. Anderson A.Q.M.

Captain T.W. Rice Rice's Tenn. Heavy Artillery

Captain J.A. Owens Light Artillery

Captain J.C. Thrall Heavy Artillery Company

1^st Lt. J.C. Barlow Thrall's Artillery

1^st Lt. W.C. Howell Owen's Artillery

1^st Lt. W.P. Barksdale Owen's Artillery

2^nd Lt. H.H. Briggs Rice's Heavy Artillery

Proceedings of a general court martial reconvened at Columbus, Mississippi on the 20^th day of March 1863 at 11 o'clock a.m. By (unreadable) of the following order.

Headquarters Dept. of Miss. And La.

Columbus, Miss. March 20, 1863

Special Order #23

The general court martial convened by order Special Order #4 from Dept. Miss. And East La. Jackson, Mississippi dated January 4, 1863 at Columbus, Mississippi on the 10^th of January 1863 is hereby ordered to reconvene at Columbus, Mississippi on the 20^th day of March 1863 in conformity with instructions from Lieutenant General Pemberton commanding Dept. of Miss. & East La. Dated March 6, 1863 for the reason and reconsideration of the proceedings of the court in accordance with these instructions.

By order Brig. Gen. Ruggles

Court Room Columbus, Miss.

March 28, 1863, 2 o'clock p.m.

Should any officer named in the above detail be prevented from attending, the court, will nevertheless proceed with the business before it provided the members present be not less than the minimum provided by law. The above being the greatest number that can be assembled without manifest injury to the service.

By order Lt. Gen. Pemberton

J.R. Waddy, A.A.G.

Court Room Columbus, Miss.

January 22, 1863

The court then proceeded to the trial of Jerry Burnett a private in Captain A.J. Guttery's Company A, 13^th Battalion Alabama Partisan Rangers who having been called into court and having heard the special order read was asked if he had any objections to any of the members named in the order to which he replied in the negative. The court was then duly sworn in his presence by the Judge Advocate and the Judge Advocate was duly sworn by the President of the Court and Private Jerry Burnett was then arraigned in the following charge and specification.

Charge Desertion.

Specification. Said Jerry Burnett a private in Captain A.J. Guttery's Co. A, 13^th Battalion Ala. P.R. Did on or about the 1^st day of December 1862 desert from Camp Adams near Columbus, Mississippi. Said Burnett did not carry away with him any of his arms or equipment. Said Burnett was arrested and brought back to Columbus, Mississippi on the 19^th day of December 1862.

Major W.A. Hewlett

Commanding Battalion

To which the accused pleaded as follows.

To the specification not guilty. To the charge not guilty.

Lieutenant Bibb a witness for the prosecution being sworn says.

Question by the Judge Advocate, “Do you know the prisoner?”

Answer, “I do.”

Question by the Judge Advocate, “Do you know that the prisoner left without the proper leave of absense?”

Answer, “I do.”

Question by the court, “Did you arrest the accused?”

Answer, “I did not, but it was done by my order.”

Question by the court, “Where was the accused arrested?”

Answer, “In Walker County, Alabama.”

Question by the court, “Did he make any resistance or try to avoid being arrested?”

Answer, “No, he did not.”

Question by the court, “Did the prisoner tell you his reasons for going home?”

Answer, “He did not.”

The prosecution here closed and the accused produced the following testimony in his defense.

Private John D. Sparks of Company D a witness for the defense being sworn says.

Question by the accused, “Did I not tell you when you arrested me that I intended starting back in two or three days?”

Answer, “You did.”

The accused having no further testimony to offer submitted the following paper marked K in his defense.

The court was then closed and after making deliberation on the evidence admitted from the accused as followed.

Of the specification Guilty.

Of the charge Not Guilty of desertion. Guilty of absence without leave.

Owing to the protracted confinement of the prisoner the court is of the opinion that he has already been sufficiently punished, and do, therefore acquit him.

T.W. Rice, Captain Artillery W.J. Winton, Lt. Artillery

President of the court Judge Advocate of court

Confirmed

J.E. Johnston, General