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162
you write to my folks that I died a soldier.' Every man of our color guard was shot and several volunteer color bearers. There was not a man of them but would die before the honor of the old Sixth should be tarnished. I do not know what is in store for us but you know that with my earliest chance, I will write you fully of what has happened."
This history would be incomplete with no glimpse of how the new recruit stood fire at home. As the thunders of Gettysburg rolled over the land, there was intense excitement on the part of all the people. Telegraphic bulletins were posted every few hours. This is from M. B. G. to R. R. Dawes:
Home, July 4th, 1863.
"Your birthday, and I have been all the time anticipating so much pleasure in writing to you to-day but it is only to-night that I have felt that I could write at all. It has seemed utterly impossible for me to write to you, not knowing you were where my letters could ever reach you or my prayers ever avail you. I feel that I can now—not that I think you are out of danger by any means—but I believe you will be spared. I shall not undertake to tell you how slowly and sorrowftilly the last three days have dragged along. The first news we heard of the battle was that the first army corps was engaged and General Reynolds killed. About noon to-day I began to feel more hopeful that you had got through safely, but this afternoon we hear thati the first corps is engaged again. When will they ever let you rest? From the papers, to-night, I conclude j'ou came safely through Wednesday (July ist) but your corps commander killed and your brigade commander wounded. I shall watch, oh, so anxiously, for tidings this week, praying that God in His mercy may spare you."
Marietta, Ohio, July yth, 1863.
"I am beginning to feel as if I could write to you again, not quite sure you are safe yet but taking heart from the fact that we have had no bad news and we have the list of killed and wounded in the sixth Wisconsin up to Thursday evening. We hope y°^ were not in that division of the first corps which was engaged Friday (July 3rd). If you are only safe how we shall rejoice' Of all times to think that you should have commanded the regi'
j
Object Description
| Title | Service With the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers |
| Source Title | Rufus R. Dawes' Service With the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers |
| Regiment | 6th Infantry |
| Volume | 1 |
| Author/Creator | Dawes, Rufus R. (Rufus Robinson), 1838-1899 |
| Description | Rufus Dawes (1838-1899) was a 20-year-old recent college graduate when the war broke out. He quickly formed a company of lumberjacks and farmers from the vicinity of Mauston, in Juneau Co., and they were mustered in as Co. K of the 6th Infantry in the summer of 1861. Over the next three years, Dawes rose to be colonel of that regiment and a leader of the Iron Brigade. He wrote this memoir in 1890 using his original letters and journals from 1861-1865. He describes in vivid detail life in camp and on the march, encounters with famous generals, and the fighting at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse and Petersburg. His book pulls no punches, and reveals what it was like for a young man to be thrust into authority amid great challenges and horrors. After the war, Dawes became a prosperous merchant in Marietta, Ohio, and served a term in Congress before dying in 1899. |
| Subcollection | Personal Narratives |
| Source | Microfiche |
| Source Type | personal narrative |
| Place of Publication | Marietta, Ohio |
| Source Creation Date | 1890 |
| Source Publisher | E.R. Alderman & Sons |
| Publisher-Electronic | Wisconsin Historical Society |
| Publication Date-Electronic | 2011 |
| Rights | © Copyright 2011 by the Wisconsin Historical Society (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Digital Format | XML |
| Digital Identifier | CWPN003010000 |
Description
| Title | 162 |
| Source Title | Rufus R. Dawes' Service With the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers |
| Regiment | 6th Infantry |
| Volume | 1 |
| Event Date | 1863-07-02 |
| Year | 1863 |
| Month | July |
| Day | 2 |
| State | PA |
| Place | Gettysburg |
| People | Dawes, Rufus R., Lt. Col.; |
| Battle | Gettysburg, Battle of |
| Topic | Iron Brigade; combat |
| Source Type | personal narrative |
| Publisher-Electronic | Wisconsin Historical Society |
| Publication Date-Electronic | 2011 |
| Rights | © Copyright 2011 by the Wisconsin Historical Society (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Digital Format | JPG |
| Full text | 162 you write to my folks that I died a soldier.' Every man of our color guard was shot and several volunteer color bearers. There was not a man of them but would die before the honor of the old Sixth should be tarnished. I do not know what is in store for us but you know that with my earliest chance, I will write you fully of what has happened." This history would be incomplete with no glimpse of how the new recruit stood fire at home. As the thunders of Gettysburg rolled over the land, there was intense excitement on the part of all the people. Telegraphic bulletins were posted every few hours. This is from M. B. G. to R. R. Dawes: Home, July 4th, 1863. "Your birthday, and I have been all the time anticipating so much pleasure in writing to you to-day but it is only to-night that I have felt that I could write at all. It has seemed utterly impossible for me to write to you, not knowing you were where my letters could ever reach you or my prayers ever avail you. I feel that I can now—not that I think you are out of danger by any means—but I believe you will be spared. I shall not undertake to tell you how slowly and sorrowftilly the last three days have dragged along. The first news we heard of the battle was that the first army corps was engaged and General Reynolds killed. About noon to-day I began to feel more hopeful that you had got through safely, but this afternoon we hear thati the first corps is engaged again. When will they ever let you rest? From the papers, to-night, I conclude j'ou came safely through Wednesday (July ist) but your corps commander killed and your brigade commander wounded. I shall watch, oh, so anxiously, for tidings this week, praying that God in His mercy may spare you." Marietta, Ohio, July yth, 1863. "I am beginning to feel as if I could write to you again, not quite sure you are safe yet but taking heart from the fact that we have had no bad news and we have the list of killed and wounded in the sixth Wisconsin up to Thursday evening. We hope y°^ were not in that division of the first corps which was engaged Friday (July 3rd). If you are only safe how we shall rejoice' Of all times to think that you should have commanded the regi' j |
| Digital Identifier | CWPN003010195 |