Letters from the Front: 52 Ancestors 2024 Prompt “Witness to History”

Captain Weir:  Civil War Officer at the Battle of Shiloh

Edward Rumsey Weir Jr.: 1839-1906 (Maternal Second Cousin 3x Removed)

 

It is so rare to hear about famous military battles from the perspective of the regular people who were fighting in the trenches, the real witnesses to history. We usually only read the history book account, a sort of omniscient-narrator version that views the battle as a whole, with individual units mere chess pieces being moved about on a gigantic gameboard. Everyone who has studied American history in school has heard of the Civil War’s Battle of Shiloh. But I was fortunate to discover a letter written from the battlefield by Captain Edward Rumsey Weir, providing that first-hand, witness-to-history perspective.

The Battle of Shiloh pitted two great generals against one another: Ulysses Grant commanding Union troops, and Albert Sidney Johnston commanding Confederate forces. The stakes were high, as were the losses, which included Johnston, who was killed in battle. Casualties (which includes injuries and captures along with deaths) totaled 24,000, making Shiloh the costliest battle of the war up to that point. Grant’s victory had important consequences. Wikipedia noted that Confederate President Jefferson Davis believed Johnston’s death was the Confederacy’s “turning point of our fate” in the Western Theater.  The Wikipedia article went on to state:

“With the loss at Shiloh, the likelihood of the Confederacy regaining control of the upper Mississippi Valley was severely diminished, and the large number of casualties represented the start of an unwinnable war of attrition.[262] The victory at Shiloh also placed the Union army in a strategic position to infiltrate and capture key points in the south.” (See Wikipedia citation below).

So who was Edward Rumsey Weir, Jr. and what led to his experiences at Shiloh? Edward was the eldest son of Edward Rumsey Weir Sr. and wife Harriet Rumsey Miller. He was born August 13, 1839 in Greenville, Kentucky and grew up in comfortable circumstances on his father’s large plantation. When the Civil War broke out, Edward joined one of the Kentucky militia units his father formed and financed to support the Union cause. The units were eventually absorbed into the Union Army as the 11^th Kentucky, an infantry regiment. Edward, at the tender age of 22, was given the rank of Captain and command over Company B.

The 11th Kentucky spent most of 1861 and early 1862 in camp at Camp Calhoun in Kentucky waiting for deployment. The troops suffered from boredom and illness, impatient for some sort of action.

Cover page for Edward Weir Jr.'s Civil War Army records from Fold3

Edward wrote home to his mother describing conditions in camp. It is an amazing account of the life and food of a Union officer in the early days of the Civil War. Admittedly, Edward had the assistance of a slave, Jessey, who accompanied him to war, cooked his food, maintained his equipment and cared for him when sick, so his life was more privileged than the average young officer.

January 8, 1862

HQ Co B 11th KY Reg, Camp Calhoun

My Mother, Dear Mother

            Today is a misty day.  We have been excused from doing the usual "Dress Parade" which always must occur rain or shine. 

            I have just finished dinner.  I was just thinking how you would like to see me at my table.  We have no table cloth.  Our table consists of a good box (that has become just blank from wear).  Fine plates with one china plate (for the Capt. as Jessey says) tin cups, three knives and 2 forks make our table furniture.  We had today, biscuits (big fat Biscuits) cold ham & coffee without sugar or cream. 

            I now can drink coffee by the pint three times a day.  I generally eat two or three of those big fat biscuits and a lb. of bacon at a time.  I have only been sick but one time with my old tonsillitis complaint.  Then I found a kind lady to take care of me.  When I began to get well, the Ladies of Rumsey sent me plenty of "goodies" until I almost made myself sick again. 

            My tent is now quite cozy.  I have a nice little stove that makes it quite warm.  I now sleep under only two blankets and Father's old shawl & keep as warm as I once did in my Country room under a comfort and half a dozen blankets before a big fire. 

            I sometimes dream that I am again in my little Country room at home and that All is peace and happiness as I once was in days gone by, when I awakened only to hear the steady tread of the sentry as he passes his "beat" back of my tent.  To hear him call for the Corporal of the Guard to let in some commissioned officer who has been out late breathing mock love to some fair maiden.  Will we ever again meet all again at home in our shady porch that is over hung by grape vines?  No one can tell.  But in all probability we never shall.  Our home may become the scene of some bloody battles between some unstrung Armies.  I may water some Southern plain with my life's blood.  But let us mother look to a brighter day - when this Rebellion shall be arrested and the power of the Government felt everywhere upon the face of this Continent.  We will again see home I hope and be sitting where we once were. 

            Jessey says tell "my" Harriet  that he does not live like he did at home.

                                                                                    Your son, E

We can see in this letter that Edward was already facing his mortality even though he had just reached adulthood. Just three months later, Edward’s unit was fighting at Shiloh. The battle began April 6, 1862 in southwestern Tennessee, and continued on April 7, which was when Edward’s regiment arrived as part of General Buell’s Army of Ohio. According to the Historical Marker Database’s entry on the “Kentucky Regiments at Battle of Shiloh history marker in Hardin County Tennessee,

“The Army of the Ohio, which reinforced the Army of the Tennessee during the late afternoon and night of April 6 and the morning of April 7, contained ten regiments of Kentucky troops: the 5th Regiment of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Division; the 6th Regiment of the 19th Brigade, and the 1st, 2nd, and 20th Regiments of the 22nd Brigade, 4th Division; the 9th and 13th Regiments of the 11th Brigade, and the 11th and 26th Regiments of the 14th Brigade, 5th Division; and the 24th Regiment of the 21st Brigade, 6th Division. The initial unit of the Army of the Ohio to arrive at the scene of battle, the 4th Division, was commanded by Brigadier General William Nelson, a Kentuckian.”

Historical marker showing Kentucky units placement on Shiloh battlefield on April 7 1862. Blue are Union units, red are the Confederate units. Kentucky men fought on both sides.

Here is Edward’s description of the battle from his position:

Shiloh Fields, April 9th, 1862

Dear Father

            I have heard through Mr. Burge of your return home.  I am truly glad of it for there is no place so near & dear to me as home.  If I could return to my house with honor, I would resign and go home.  But as things now stand, I will fight the war out.  Were inspected yesterday by Capt. Gallent of the U.S.A.  He said that we could fight, but that we were imperfect in drill.  The men did not show much as we have been encamped 12 days without a tent, a blanket, an overcoat, or a camp ... the men were out of heart & did not care whether they have called their arms well or not.  We were called up & told that if we did not improve in two weeks that an examination would be had upon the Company officers.  My Company he hinted would pass.  Gen. Crittenden complimented us.  We were ordered up on Monday when the 14[th] Wisconsin had been routed.   The command was given by our Gen. to charge.  The wild cheers were given for Kentucky & with Crittenden at our head we rushed like men upon them.  Maj. Motty, Capt. Roach, Capt. Plato & myself were the first to cross the Branch.   Capt. Plato fell, Capt. Roach was wounded, John B. Morgan was killed at my side.  Elis Skip with Bayly Simmons and Brad Rhoads were wounded.  All at my side.  About 40 of us went too far beyond our lines & came very near being taken prisoners.  If all the regiment had followed, we would have been able to have routed them completely.  We again fell back and formed.  We made 5 charges during the day.  Upon 3 of them, with two guns, 3 times we took possession of the guns, twice we were driven back, but the fourth time we held them.  They were about to move off with one of the guns.  I then was within about 50 yards of it.  While they were lumbering, I advanced about 20 yards, with your colt revolver, I shot the saddle horse which of course stopped the removal.  I then fell down upon my face and awaited the advance of our boys.  The balls came fast and thick over me, but I came out unhurt.  We fought from 8 o'clock until 5 pm.  I had my pants about shot through by a grape shot.  This letter is only to let my Father know what his son did.  The boys in my Company will tell you that this Capt. was in the thick of the fight.  The Gen. & Col. can make out their reports, but they know nothing of who was in the advances.  Col. Love was at his place during the whole day.  Col. Hawkins was in the fight.  Hudson Brown has survived and James Patterson, who has been appointed my Lieut., is a good officer and fought well in the battle. 

                                                                                                Your Son

In only a few sentences, Edward brings this battle to life. The details vividly evoke images, smells and sounds: the horse falling as he shot it with a Colt Revolver. His fellow officers falling after being shot next to him. The smell of gunpowder and the whistling of minie balls over his head as he lay face down in the dirt. The futility of charging forward and gaining a piece of land and cannon, only to fall back, and then to once more charge forward into a barrage of bullets, intent on retaking the land and weapons just ceded.

Painting of Battle of Shiloh

Edward Weir survived the Civil War, advancing to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by age 23. His file of war records and army muster rolls was nearly thirty pages long. He fought in battles around Corinth as part of the Kentucky 11th. He served as a recruiter back in Kentucky, and then transferred to Kentucky 35^th in an attempt to return to the front despite poor health. He suffered from severe long-term illnesses that made it difficult for him to keep up with his regiment, and by 1864 was assigned to serve in the Union’s office of Court Martial in Kentucky, probably due to his legal training. He mustered out of the army in late 1864.

Sept 5, 1864 Letter from Edward asking to be relieved of Court Martial Duty

Following the war, Edward married Eliza Triplett and worked as a lawyer in his hometown of Greenville. He and Eliza had seven children. He died April 3, 1906, at age 66. His father wrote a memoir of his service during the Civil War, described in previous blog posts. Edward Jr.’s letters to his family from army camp and from the battlefield were donated to Western Kentucky University’s Manuscripts & Folklife Archives along with his father’s memoir, which is where I located them.

The Battle of Shiloh may have had significant repercussions on the future of the United States, but it also had significant impacts on the men who fought in the battle. I’m sure Edward Weir’s experiences stayed with him life-long. Eyewitnesses to history never forget.  

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shiloh

http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/military/rosters/union/11rega-k.txt

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm#sort=score+desc&q=edward+weir

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=22024, Kentucky Regiments at Battle of Shiloh.

US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Union - Kentucky, 1861-1865. US, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Kentucky, 1861-1865. https://www.fold3.com/image/231454886

MSS 651 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University. Collection of Weir family papers, including Edward Rumsey Weir Jr. letters.