Battle of Fort Donelson
From The New-York Times February 26, 1862:
THE SAD SIDE OF THE PICTURE.
FORT DONELSON, TENN., Monday, Feb. 17, 1862.
The following private letter, written by a former attache of the New-York Post-office, presents another side of the victory gained at Fort Donelson, from that which is generally contemplated:
MY DEAR FATHER: Sad, lonely and down-hearted. I attempt to write you a few lines, to let you know I am alive and unhurt. We have had a most bloody fight; there must have been five thousand to seven thousand men killed and wounded, on both sides. But the enemy surrendered on Saturday evening, we taking about thirteen thousand prisoners. But, dear father, the hardest part of the story is, that out of eighty-five men in my company, only seven came out — the most whosesale slaughter that was ever heard of.
More of the battle
My company was the color company, at which the rebels took particular aim; as fast as one man who carried it would be shot another would take his place; but the flag was brought through. Only one hundred and sixteen remain in the Eleventh Regiment uninjured.
Do not wonder, dear father, that I am downhearted. My boys all loved me, and need I say that, in looking at the poor remnant of my company — the men that I have taken so much pains to drill, the men that I thought so much of — now nearly all in their graves — I feel melancholy. But I do not complain; God spared my life, and for what, the future must tell. I will write you soon again. The Eleventh Regiment will, I think, (what is remaining,) be left to guard the prisoners at Cairo or Alton, whilst they recruit. Whether I shall attempt to raise another company, I do not know at present. Good bye. Let the folks at home know I am safe.
Yours, affectionately,
L.D. WADDELL, Captain Co. E. Eleventh
Regiment Ill. Vol., (what is left of it.)
WM. COVENTRY H. WADDELL, Esq., New-York.
There is pretty good evidence that Captain Waddell and the rest of the 11th Illinois Infantry did not spend too much time guarding rebel prisoners.
Seeking the wounded
