Thomas Wright's Diary

1934/ letters

Thom, Grace

Hard to believe it's early May, I have a couple letters enclosed.
One is from Uncle Thom to Granma Wright. It's very graphic in detail, just to let you know. The other is a letter from Theo to Momma, or Betsy who I believe to be Momma. Glad you all can make it for the 4th of July. Well that's all hope the letters are informative.

Dear Sister Kate

I find myself tearin this letter up ta you more times, than I care ta admit. It has been six days past since those few days of battle in the North, near Gettysburg. Kate the days after have been near impossible ta get a hold of, what happened the folly and death more than I could ever think.

I am a Sergeant now, part of General Pickett's Staff. I was close by when General Longstreet gave the order to attack. Not so much a word, more a nod. When asked by Pickett if it was time. So our Division led the way. Those fellas, well boys most them much younger than my name sake Thomas. First I musten get ahead of myself. For two hours both sides fired more cannon shot than I have ever seen nor heard. The ground shook, smoke the smell of spent powder filled the air.

Those poor boys marched out Guidons an our colors were just a flutter not dancin in a breeze or nothin, Kate it was terrible hot. The type that could put ya down. Why my ears even were covered in sweat. Our tattered Grey an Butternut Brown boys marched in rank towards certain death. Some had no shoes or boots, still they held ranks. Marched like well trained men, the lines not broke nor scattered about.

Kate, they had ta cover near a mile at the very least. In an out of sight they moved, up a slight rise then down. Our boys turned a few times ta try an fool those damn Yanks. We thought we put those cannon out of business, Kate we was wrong, this I can only tell as I seen it through the haze of powder smoke, an waterin eyes. Kate, I near cried like a child, yet I was proud of those fellas they didn't run, least most didn't.

Kate, they had ta loaded those cannon with nails, chain what ever they could. Through the smoke ya could see thirty forty men fall at once. Our boys tried ta fill in an move ever forward, Companies tore ta pieces, the fire was like thunder never-ending Thunder!

One's that made it ta the road, tried ta clear the fence some climbed it others removed the rails. Kate, under heavy fire, musket cannon.
They dropped like rain or snow Kate! So many boys fell, ta many ta count! I did see some Guidons make it all the way near that wall of death, they did not last long.

General Pickett had the recall sounded, when he saw no use in continuin the attack. Still our boys were assaulted on the return. They ran, but still tried ta help wounded and friends a long the way.

Kate, it had ta been close ta half those fellas did not come back. What a grand folly Kate, I am no Officer I knew those boys could not do it. My heart pains over so much death. General Pickett isn't the same man he was, I think this has ripped somethin away from him.

Our boys, including myself are tuckered an hungry we fought our way back into Virginia. With little sleep an food, we still have our will ta fight! We just need rest an food then, think about another battle. Kate, I do hope ya Thom are fine. No need ta worry they ain't killed me yet. Kate ya keep Thom at home, he has no need in this! The Wrights need no more death in the family from this fight.

You take care Kate
Your loving brother
Thom

Letter from Theo to Betsy.

Betsy and Mrs. Wright

No need to worry, Thomas is fine and doing well. If he hasn't mentioned it, he is a Officer now. Doing a fine job at it. I presume a Mister Wilson has stopped out to check on you two. He should be over a couple times a week to try and help out and make sure you are fine. He will help get you and Mrs Wright over into Ohio if need be. Betsy he is a good man. Comes from a fine family he will do his best to watch over the place.

I can find away to get Thom home, if it comes to that. You two please take care Thom loves you both, he is worried about you.
Please inform me if matters get worse for you or the Farm.

Your faithful Friend
Theo Bowman

Thom Grace a few things I will add here. A few people were missing about October 1870, the County Sheriff and a man named George Mitchell, one other but the article is damaged badly. Seems they had a fire most of the older stories in the paper didn't do well.
So we know something happened around that time I figure it did.
I am going over to Ripley see if I can find anything over in the Ripley papers. I will write again as soon as know something.

Your brother
Will Wright

A few Facts

1) General Longstreet was actually in Charge of Pickett's Charge.
General Longstreet, tried to talk Lee out of the Charge. Longstreet just nodded as the command to begin, unable to speak.

2) Pickett gets the name because his Division led the Charge.

3) Up to that point Lee ordered the largest Artillery barrage in the history of the western hemisphere. Hour long some reports say two hours, hence Uncle Thomas reference to two hours. More than 150 guns fired.

4) Pickett's Division advanced the Furthest that day.

5) Dozens of Officers were killed whole Regiments lost.

6) About 7,300 men were either captured Killed or wounded. About half of what advanced that day.

7) Some sites say Lincoln got Pickett his appointment to West Point others say it was John T Stewart that did it. Lincoln and Pickett were friends in Illinois, so Lincoln may of had a lot to do with it. So History may never tell us.

8) When General Lee, asked on the state of Pickett's Division, Pickett's responses supposedly was, General Lee, I have no Division.

9) Pickett lost half his men, killed, captured or wounded. All his Brigade Commanders lost.

10) Pickett and his Division arrived late to the Battle, that is why his Division was chose to lead. His was the freshest Division on the field. Two other Generals had commands that day, General J. Johnston Pettigrew and General Issac Trimble.

I would like to thank you all, please vote and comment. Like any History, I can only get the facts. Some of these facts can be disputed,
Found to be different at other places. If I get any wrong it is not intentional or trying to direct my point of view. Only give you the History as I find it. As always, I ask you the reader to investigate learn more. History can repeat it's self over and over.
Dram12 AKA Tim