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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Genealogy > Letters, Diaries and Journals > Letter from the Battle of Jenkins Ferry |
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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Genealogy > Letters, Diaries and Journals > Letter from the Battle of Jenkins Ferry |
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| Letter from the Battle of Jenkins Ferry | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sat Jan 22nd, 2011 06:50 pm |
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1st Post |
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microwizard Member
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Below is a link to the scanned image of the original letter to my great grand mother from her brother, feel free to correct errors in this transcript. http://www.kydirt.com/gallery/v/Personal_001/reynolds_001/ Camp near Jenkins Ferry May 1st. 1864 Dear Sister Yesterday we engaged the the enemy at the ferry on the Saline, never was a field more hotly con- tested and I do not believe there has ever been harder fighting on either side in this war or any other. I have never heard any firing of small arms half so terrible Skirmishing commenced at daylight general engagement commenced about 7 and one incessant deafining roar continned until 3 when the enemy left the field to us, heard no estimate of loss on either side ours was severe theirs was more terrible the battle was fought in the river bottom water and mud was knee deep for infantry and almost impassable for horsemen the enemy used no artillery at all we used but little I was unfortunate enough to loose one section the horses ever shot down before we unlimbered and we had to roll the pieces out from under the horses to open fire we were at the time in one hundred yards of the enemys line of infanty they charged us and we being without support were run over my loss is 14 killed wounded and missing three of the brave boys were killed after surrendering I fear they will kill the captured they left the field with Liet Lockhart was wounded and captured he was the last to leave the battery he loaded and fired a charge of canister at 20 steps. Eugene Ewing is amoung the missing think the enemy took him we were charged by a negro regiment a great many of them are dead in the field to blame is attached to us for our loss having been first on down by Price and then by Gen. Smith impressed to take that position yet I knew what the result would be when the section went in. It rain during the whole fight which made the ground everywere very deep. We had 5 Brig. Gen wounded. My pen is so indifferent that I dislike to write at all, but hope to tell you more about these thing when I see you. I have had no more shakes and begin to feel all right. Good bye Love to mother Your affect Bro Sam T. Ruffner
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| Posted: Sat Jan 22nd, 2011 07:49 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Texas Defender Member 
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The Reverend Ruffner was an interesting fellow. For those who wish to read more: http://files.usgwarchives.org/mo/lafayette/bios/r1560009.txt Rev Samuel T. Ruffner (1836 - 1923) - Find A Grave Memorial Buried in the same cemetery as Reverend Ruffner is the Civil War diarist Lucy Rebecca Buck (1842-1918) of Front Royal, VA. She chronicled wartime events in her diary and was the author of: "Sad Earth, Sweet Heaven," and: "Shadows of My Heart." Also buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery is Lucy's brother Captain Irving Ashby Buck (1840-1912). He served in the 7th Virginia, then on General Beauregard's staff, and finally on General Cleburne's staff. He later wrote a biography of General Cleburne titled: "Cleburne and His Command." Last edited on Mon Jan 24th, 2011 01:59 am by Texas Defender |
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27th, 2011 05:47 am |
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3rd Post |
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Cogswell Pepperbox Did I Fire 6 Shots or Only 5 ? 
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Thank you very much for this. After The War, my 3rd Great Grandfather relocated from Alabama to Calvert County, Arkansas. Members of my family have been baptized in the bend of the Saline at Jenkin's Ferry ever since.
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| Posted: Fri May 11th, 2012 04:41 pm |
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4th Post |
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Bill Gurley Member
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Are there any other letters from Samuel Ruffner in the possession the family that owns the one he wrote on May 1, 1864?
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| Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2012 06:01 am |
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5th Post |
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carloshoward45 Member
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Bill Gurley wrote: Are there any other letters from Samuel Ruffner in the possession the family that owns the one he wrote on May 1, 1864?any update to this... __________________________ cell therapy Last edited on Sun Jul 29th, 2012 11:10 pm by carloshoward45 |
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