Franklin County: John J. Miller to George Miller, April 15, 1862
Summary:
John J. Miller describes the Union shelling of Fort Pulaski from Tybee Island. He also talks
about the incompetency of a regimental doctor.
George Miller
April 15th 1862
Tybee Isl Georgia
Dear Brother
I received yours of March 25th and was pleased to learn that friends
were all well as i am enjoying the same blessing we had a pleasant
ride from Hilton Head we started on the 9th while there was the heaviest
thunder gust i ever witnessed and arrived the same day we worked that night at the batteries
untill about two oclock in the morning and
then took rest as the batteries were to open on Fort Pulaski at 9 oclock it was a grand sight to behold 7 or 8 batteries playing with the largest mortars
that ever a bomb was shot out of and almost every bomb exploded
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right over the fort
there were 17 out of 25 - 240 pound bombs thrown into the fort from a battery that i was at the
bombs that were shot from the fort sometimes fell very near to us causing us to squat there was
only one man killed and one wounded at our batteries i dont know how many were killed in the
fort. but we took 360 prisoners the cannonade was kept up for 32 hours before we made an
opening in the walls of the fort there are only part of 8 companys
of our Reg't here our battalion was to lead the forlorn hope with two companys of the 46th New York Gen Hunter came to our Lieu't Col
as the Col is not here and asked him if we would lead
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the storming party if they
would not surrender in 6 hours we gave him the Cheers Capt Mc Intire was
praying that they would hold out 6 hours longer so that we could charge on them the scaling
ladders were all got ready but we were sadly disappointed at 3 oclock there was a white rag run up the flag staff and all was over we told the capt
that Co. D. was the leading Co of our Reg't on a march he said he said he would not give a damn
for us if we could not crowd through them and get into the fort first the first night of the
bombardment we were marched through the greatest roads you ever seen through woods and
swamps
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we were muddy up to our middle we calculated that the rebels would leave the
fort and try to escape and we were placed behind the fort to bring them to a halt if they tried
to it but they did not towards morning our pickets were drove in we were ordered into line and
our guns loaded but were not disturbed i think we will be in savanna when you receive this as we have Pulaski and fort Jackson now they only gave
one broadside from the Wabash on Jackson the rebbels spiked there cannon and run like buggars give my respect to all enquiring friends direct your letter Tybee Island Georgia 76th Reg't Co. I. Penna Vols in care of Capt
McIntire
Your affectionate brother
John J. Miller
write soon
PS/ Thomas Stevens sends his respects to you he has done no duty Since we left Harrisburg he
was on the sick list he has a running sore on his exterior parts which is hard to cure in this
climate as we have nothing but a butcher for a doctor he knows nothing at all for here was a
man went to him from comp F for medicine he told him he was fit
for duty to go and drill all he wanted was exercise the next day he died that is the way he
serves them most all i went to him one day just for fun i got lazy i wanted a day or two rest i
told him i had awful pains in my head and neck he felt my pulse and looked at my
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tongue he said i was not fit for duty and put my name on the sick list i told our orderly
sergeant there was nothing wrong with me he told me i need not do any duty as long as my name
is on the sick list all the docter gave me was three powders told me
to take one in the morning one at dinner and one in the evening i threw them away i went to him
the next morning and told him they done me no good. he said i was fit for duty. so i got two
days rest
Your most affectionate brother
John J Miller
answer this if you please
