WARTIME LETTER OF

ENSIGN HOSEA GARRETT,
CO. G, 10TH TEXAS INFANTRY

TO HIS HIS UNCLE, HOSEA SR.,
AT CHAPEL HILL, TEXAS

researched by:
SCOTT McKAY

 

Atlanta, Ga. August 1st, 1864.

 

Elder H. Garrett
My Dear Uncle:

 

I availe myself of the present opportunity for writing you another letter, notwithstanding I have but poor encouragement to write to any of my relatives in Texas. I have written repeatedly to on of the other of you but have received but one letter since my release from prison [Ed: Camp Douglas on April 1, 1863; having been captured with the rest of the command, at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, on January 11, 1863.], and that one came from Perry [Ed: Oliver Hazard Perry Garrett]. I am anxious to hear from you all but cannot.

 

We have been lying in the ditches near the City for something like a week. The enemy has almost quit shelling this portion of our lines. It is said they are concentrating their forces on our center; for what pupose I cannot say. I hardly think that they will charge our works. I have heard repeatedly that they Yankee Gents can't get their men to charge rebel works, and I believe it from what I have seen. I have heard them blow their forward calls but could not get their men in advance.

 

We have had three fights with them, beginning on the 18th of July and lasting to the 22nd of the same. It seems that our Brigade is quite lucky to get into fights. We Worsted them every time, but the last one, and I supposed did then. I understand that our Genl claims a victory even then. I will give you rather a detailed account of the fight of the 22nd.

 

The enemy was flanking us on our right as usual. Our corps [Ed: Hardee's] was sent round to flank them and rout and drive them from their positions. We moved all night, and next day we came on them about noon and found them strongly fortified. We charged their works and carried some two lines of works. The enemy abandoned their artillery and wagons in our front. The Brigade on our right [Ed: Lowrey's, Cleburne's Division] and left [Ed: Gist's, Walker's Division] failed to come up; so did our support, and we had to fall back. The Brigade on our left met with stubborn resistance but carried two short lines of works (rather, the enemy's front works), and captured all that was in them. They said that our Brigade captured some 15 or 16 pieces of artillery, two 20 pound Parrots among them by not having support at the right time. Late in the evening of the same day, we were sent on another charge, pretty much over the same ground. But the enemy fought with great courage and no doubt but what they had masked their forces; at all events, we failed to carry their works. I suppose I got in 10 paces of their works with the colors of the 10th Texas Regt. but could not stay there, from the fact that the men did not come up. I suppose that there was not more than half a dozen men with me. The men were badly scattered and many exhausted from the loss of sleep and warm weather and long marching. This is the first time that the 10th Regt. ever failed to accomplish anything of the kind since they have been on this side of River. Had it not been from Genl. Walker killed in the early part of the engagement while leading his Division in the charge, we would have completely routed the entire flank, but he and his Senior Brig. Genl. were both shot before they could get their men in position. His Brigadier was not killed but wounded, and consequently that noble Division on our right did not accomplish anything scarcely, but lost quite a number of men. I have several acquaintances in that Division from the old Palmetto State. Our Brigade is quite small. I suppose that it will number some 6 to 700 men. There are 10 Regt. in it: 9 from Texas and the 5 Confederate. Our Regt. numbered, after the fight, between 90 to 100 men, but some have come from the Hospital and I suppose we will number 125 at this time.

 

 

Battle Report of the 10th Texas Infantry "Near Atlanta"


 

 

Casualties of the 10th Texas Infantry "Near Atlanta"
 

 

 


 

 

There is a heavy cannonading on our left today, in fact has been ever since we have been here, with but short intervals between. We on this end of the line know but little or nothing about what is goin on on the other. It is thought that the enemy has an overwhelming force in our front, and I don't doubt it, for we may stretch our lines as far as we can, and they have plenty of men to go around us. Our brigade is strong out in our rank, and so is one more on our right at this time, and there may be others for all I know, and yet it seems that they still outreach us. Report says that Genl Forrest & Lee from Miss. are coming to our relief, and the militia is being sent forward as fast as the trains can bring them, and we also have a rumor that Lt. Genl. Smith is coming over with his force from the Trans-Miss. Department. If we can get all the help that we hear is coming, we will give this army such a beating as no other has had. We have retreated from Middle Tenn. to Atlanta, fighting the enemy hard in several instances, and always whipping them when we had anything like an equal chance.

 

I suppose that you have heard, or will before this reaches you, that Gen. Hood is in command of this Army. For what reason Johnston was released it is more than any of us know. The army had the utmost confidence in Genl. Johnston, and I well say that I have not heard a man say anything about it but what regretted his being released. All that I hear say anything about Genl. Hood say that he is too fond of charging the enemy's works. We had rather not charge them, but would rather be charged by them, until our number equals theirs. And then we would be wiling to meet them in an open field. We are all quite tired of this war but will stay as long as life last of see the end of this cruel War. The man that our Co. sent to Texas has not returned: do you know anything about him?

 

We have heard of another victory in Miss. Forrest is the man in the right place. This army seems to be in good spirits and looking forward to the day when we will gain a victory over Sherman and Thomas. McFearson was killed on the 22nd of July in the charge that we made.

 

Crops are tolerable good on this side of the River, as I understand it. I have heard that they are excellent in Texas, from men that have recently come from that quarter.

 

Father [Ed: John Garrett] is in the enemy's lines. How they have treated him I cannot say, as I have not heard from him in more than a month. I suppose that they have taken all that he had, for I understand that they take even the ladies' wearing apparel, also that of helpless children.

 

I can't believe that God will let such a people go unpunished. I believe that the day for their overthrow is not far distant. I have heard that they cut the throat of a very wounded man that they came across in Miss. They drove Forrest back the first day 5 mises, and this is the treatment that our brave soldiers, wounded at that, received at their hands. And I heard that some of our men found some of their wives tied to stakes and dead from the cruel treatment that they received from their foul hands. If such as this will not make men desperate, what will? We are not what we should be in a religious point of view, but I am certain that we have no soldier that would commit such outrageous acts on helpless women and children as theirs has been guilty of. I would to God that our entire Amy were true Christians. I have been spared this far, for which I thank God, for, both by day and night, I desire and entrust in the prayers of all relatives and friends in Texas. Pray the Lord to spare me though this cruel war, and that I may do some good in the name of my master's cause. I have tried to make a Christian soldier as well as a soldier for my country's rights. In this I pray to be sustained.

 

[Ed: At Pickett's Mill,] J. L. Clark fell, pierced through the head on the 27th of May. John Gary fell on the same day, shot through the body, but was carried to the Field Hospital and died in a day or two. He said to me that he wished me to tell his uncle John Walker know that he died an honorable death. He was shot near me while the battle was raging the hottest. He is gone, I trust, to heaven. He was a member of the Baptist Church. He made one of the best of soldiers. Let his uncle know this.

 

Tom Barton of our Co. [Ed: Co. G, 10th Texas Infantry] is dead. His brother William wounded in some hospital. George Hill that lived with Kavenaugh is also killed. I could mention numbers of others, but not of your acquaintance. H. D. Malone of our Co. was also killed, not far from Marietta. He was a son-in-law of the Widow Lockridge that lives in the upper part of W. Co. Col. Wilkes' son killed not far from the same place. All the bravest men in our Co. have been killed. J. N. Buster has been complaining for the last few days. I hope nothing serioius will take him, for he has been a strong stake in this war. He is beliked by all that know him. If it is the will of God, we would like to come this coming winter. Uncle Isaac [Ed: Garrett] is also in the enemy's lines, if he has not move out. Uncle Joe Owens was completely broken up by them last winter. There are thousands of families that were in fine circumstances that have been broken up by the enemy, and I do not see anything but starvation for such opportunites. God can and may provide for all such. Oh, that I had the means and power to relieve them. Me heart seems to reach after all such, and, if I had it, none should want for the necessities of life. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.

 

I have been thinking for some time that I would like for you to preach my funeral at Old Prividence Church, if I should fall in our struggle for liberty. I often think of the very spot in the Church where God forgave me for Christ's sake for all I had ever done in sinning against his righteous laws. I thought then that my troubles were all over. But I find since that even the Christian has many trials in this life. But, blessed be God, there is a promise to those that hold our faithful to that end. And I am determined to be on of that number, by the help of the Lord. I have selected the 2 chapter of Paul to the Ephesians and 8 verse. It reads "For by grace are us saved through through faith and that not of yourselves" it is the gift of God." This looks to me like it is a very appropriate text. However, I will leave you to judge.

 

My health has been quite good. I have not been in a Hospital sick, since I have been on this side of the River.

 

Remember me to all my friends & relatives. I have hope that I will be spared to meet you all in days of peace again. I have promised myself many things, if I should, in the kind of life that I will live, etc.

 

My kindest regards and best wishes to yourself and family and all relatives. My compliments to those that may inquire after my welfare.

 

[Special Collections - Atlanta History Center - Atlanta, Georgia]


 

Notes

Ensign (1Lt.) Hosea Garrett - Age 28 upon enlistment as 5Sgt. with Co. G, 10th Texas Infantry, at Houston, Harris County, Texas, on October 25, 1861. He was born December 29, 1831 at Lounee District, South Carolina. According to the 1860 Texas Census, he worked as an "Overseer" at Chapel Hill, Washington County. 5Sgt. Garrett was on sick furlough to Prairie County, Arkansas, in the month of August 1862.

 

2Lt. Garrett was captured at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, on January 11, 1863; arriving at Camp Chase Prison on January 27th. Garrett was paroled from prison for exchange on April 10, 1863; to Ft. Delaware, Maryland; he was exchanged at City Point, Virginia, on April 29, 1863.

 

2Lt. Garrett was promoted to 1Lt. on April 15, 1864, at Dalton, Georgia, two weeks prior to the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign.

 

According to the September 17, 1864 issue of the Daily Intelligencer (published in Macon, Georgia), Ensign Garrett was severely wounded in the breast at Jonesboro, Georgia, on September 1, 1864. He was listed a patient for his wound at Floyd House Hospital, Macon, Georgia, on September 26, 1864. Ensign Garrett's last military record listed him present at Tuscumbia, Alabama, on November 7, 1864, on the Inspection Rolls of Officers serving in Cheatham's Corps, Army of Tennessee.

 

Hosea Garrett died on October 6, 1880; he was buried in the Texas Masonic Cemetery, Chapel Hill, Washington County, Texas.

 

 

(Letter of Oliver Hazzard Perry Garrett To Florence Garrett)

 

"I am sorry I could not tell you more about your father, whom I idolized. But, as I told you in my letter, I was a little boy, when I knew him intimately. One of the few incidents I recall vividly was his return from the Camp Douglas prison at Chicago, several months after the close of the War. The way he came to be wounded was that, just as the battle was about to begin [Ed: Jonesboro on September 1, 1864], the Yankee army was already drawn up in battle array and was waiting for the Confederate army to advance to its position. When it had advanced to the position and the command was given to halt, preparatory to the engagement, your father didn't hear the command and continued to advance with the flag, till he was shot down.

Nothing was heard from him by his kinfolks until the war closed. Among the young men who went to the army from the Chapel Hill neighborhood was one Milton Bell. When Bell returned from the army, he brought word that your father had died on the battle-field in his lap and that he was the last man to minister to his sufferings and deposited the last clod of earth upon his grave. This made us all feel very kindly to Milton Bell, to think he had been with your father in his dying moments, trying to relive his sufferings. Bell was looked upon by all the neighborhood as well as by the relatives as a hero,- until your father bobbed up after the war closed. The community then realized that he was a big windy and monumental prevaricator. He became such a by-word and joke that he had to leave home.

Your father came to Grandpa's on foot in the night, a little after supper-time, and shouted 'Hello!' When Grandpa came to the door, he asked permission to stay all night. His request was granted, and he sat around the fire for an hour, talking to Grandpa and Grandma with-out being recognized. Finally, he got to joking and teasing, and Grandma recognized him and nearly hugged him to death. Although it was bedtime, the news of his return spread like wildfire, and all the kinfolks were soon on hand to welcome him."

The preface of the above letter, transcribed from it's original, notes: "Hosea Garrett, Jun. was fighting as color-bearer of the Tenth Texas Hardee's Division [Ed: Cleburne's Division, Hardee's Corps]. He had moved to Texas [from Alabama] to be near his uncle, Reverend Hosea Garrett, one of the founders of Baylor University, who had no son and of whom he was devotedly fond..."

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