The Confederates "Fought Like Tigers" at Shiloh

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A great Confederate soldier's battle of Shiloh letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Henry J. Carter, Col. [William] Wirt Adams (1st Mississippi) Cavalry regiment, "Camp near Corinth, Miss., April 19, 1862, to his wife reading, in part: "I have written to you twice since the great battle but Capt. Gaines handed me a note from you to him yesterday inquiring about me - I was not under fire. I had gone with Capt. [M] Fagg's com. out on outpost duty - we did not expect to remain but three days. We were kept there two weeks - we were all the time in hearing of the guns and within a few miles of a portion of the field. It was a great and glorious fight and its result is highly important. Our com. was on the field with Gen. Johnson and near him when he fell. None of the com. was seriously hurt altho some had the bullets pass within feeling distance. If it had not been for the gun boats - our victory would have lacked no element of completeness - the enemy have attempted nothing since the fight - they will not attack Corinth - we are in hopes they will come on for if they do they will hardly get back to the river again. We are fearful now that Memphis will be the next point of attack and that it may fall before those irresistible engines of the gunboats. I hope we shall not lose Memphis and if we do not I am confident that we shall be in Tenn. again before the middle of may. Our Regt. has been attached to the command of Brig. Gen. Gardner. We have just moved from our camp about three miles north of town - it is a very pretty place - the water is limy and not very clear but better than much that soldiers have to drink here. The change of water etc has produced some sickness in camp but I hope we will soon get used to it. Almost every man in the Regt. has got some trophy off the field in the shape of knives, bayonets, canteens, letters, pipes, paper - and many small notions the "Grand Army" was supplied with - the roads had become almost impassable - we had only a limited time to remain on the field. Our troops took no tents with them as the intention was to fall back and draw the enemy out to our works at this place but our general - had to take time to ring off the captured cannon and prisoners and now it seems they were too badly whipped to pursue sand we may not be able to lure them from the river. I have seen a large number of letters taken on the field. Some of them are very vulgar and illiterate epistles from some girl to her lover - written in true lover style. They assure their friends of their prayers and faith concerning the war - how strange that this war can be viewed in such wildly different lights by the people of the North and South - you will remember the first company which left Choctaw, Capt. Abner Gaines'. It suffered severely in the fight and lost its brave and noble captain who was killed in the very thickest of the fight. He was very much beloved at home and in the service. He was a brother of corporal Gaines of our Co. - in the list of wounded the name of a Maj. Johnson who commanded an Ark. Battalion - he may be an acquaintance of yours. We hear that Capt. Mose's Com. from Choctaw, the one which John Horn belonged was captured at Island 10 - those who were on the battle field say that it was an awful sight - men were lying in heaps dead and dying and everything about the field attesting the fierce and desperate nature of the conflict. - Manassas was by no means such a fight- we fought an army of as fine troops as ever were marshaled for battle and they fought us bravely, giving way inch by inch as they were obliged to yield before the desperate spirit of our men. We might have been overwhelmed and crushed by numbers but we could not possibly be beaten in fair fight. Every man fought for his home and those who are dearer to him than life - defeat was a thing not to be submitted to before death. Tenn. troops who were smarting under the stigma of inglorious defat at Fishing Creek fought - like unchained tigers. All did their duty manfully - my appreciation of the encouragement which the ladies at home have sent us while on the field, "Our Country, God & the Ladies" as Don Quixotie's motto-your devoted husband, Henry." Also included is the original "Due 5" transmittal cover with "Corinth, Miss., April 21" cancel on the verso. Docketed: "H. J. Carter, Priv. Com. C., Wirt Adams' Regt." in the upper left corner. Fully transcribed. Overall VG to near fine.

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