Meridian Station
April 13th 1862
My Dear Parent this will
inform you that I am yet
well and doing well except
a very sore hand I have been
suffering ver greatly ever since
I left Home but I think my
hand is improving slowly
it has been the worst affair
I ever got in to.
I hope this will soon find
you all well &c. I have
but little of interest to write
ever thing is in great comotion
Reports of hard fought
battles are gradualy coming
in and from the best inform-
-ation we are going it victori
-ously at all points. I have
not as yet seen the correct
reports from Corinth or
any other point sooner
and paper accounts put
corinth down as one of the
heaviest battles on record
our loss was very great of course
but the enimies was about
three times as heavy
I saw 2000 prisnors on
yesterday among whome
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was general Prentice with
many other officers of high
rank I talked with them
and they appeared lively and
joval they were well dressed
and behaved with Respect
they said they felt sorry at their
condition but one consolation
was they were in the hands
of a valerous People they
were taken by the Missisipians
yesterday reports from york
town say the battle was great
and powerful the enemys
loss was 10.000 our loss small
in comparison but you must
learn to make all allowances
but no doubt we are gaining
great and glorious victories
and should feel very thankful
to him who does all well
you will invoke his blessing
on us all (the last mentioned
fight was in verginia)
Well I could tell you many things
about what the boys tell about
the great fight but as so many
of the Steel blades are wounded [1]
will go to see them and learn
the whole affair. I have
dressed some 40 or 50 wounds
[page 3]
in the last few days; I was
detailed to go to Corinth as
a Sergeon but as my hand
was so badly cripeled I could
not of done any work if I
had of gone or but very little
at best. Tell marion the old
10th Regt done the best work
that men ever dide do I suppose
and but few was lost Capt Miller
was shot dead no other officer
killed Private sikes was killed
Richard Patterson of the 9th Regt
was wounded Skinner wound
all of the Bahala Boys come
off unhurt this showes the
difference in officers the steel
blades was all sacrifised for
want of officers or that is the
roomer up heare please
dont mention this to any body
We have got orders to March
to Corinth but I cant say when
we will march but I suppose
in 3 or 4 days an other great
battle is expected at Corinth
and I will be in shure if
nothing happens but you
must not be uneasy about
me for if I fall I am deter
-min to fall as near my
Post as I can an sell my
[page 4]
life as dearly as I can and
if I get wounded I am
coming home to you I wish
Marion was with me but
I want him to do as he thinks
bes an do his duty if he
was to come to our Campany
he must come as a private
and that is enough. I am
not inclined to boast on my
self but I stand very fair
in this command I believe so
far I must close write
soon and often give me
all the news present my
regards to all
I am as ever your son
J. J. Little
PS
all of our company is in
good health and get plenty of
good beef and corn bread
and coffee &c