MILNER to MILNER
Civil War letters – Son, William Mark MILNER letters to his Mother telling of wounding of Brother, George and his death. Also Capture of John.
William Mark MILNER-Division Hospital August 23, 1864 Letter To His Mother about wounded brother, George.
I again seat myself to write you a few lines, but it is with a sad heart that I write, and sad subject that I have to write to you on is one which I know will give you pain and trouble, I am sorry that I have to write .
Ma, George was very dangerestly wonded last Thursday the 18th of this month. The ball struct near the forward on the right side & range back towards the back of the head it broke the skull and injured the brain very seriously he in his right mind all the time. I am staying with him and will remain with him all the time.
Ma the Doctors thinks there is some chance for him to get well, I have several of the best doctors with him that is in our division & we will do all that can be done for him, he appears to be some beter than he was some days ago. This is the sixth day, since he was wounded. They has some of the brain worked out of the wound but the doctors says they have seen such cases cured. But Ma to tell you the truth I think it is very doutfull case. I don’t tell you this to trouble you for you know that I would not give you trouble for the world if I could help it. But there is hope as long as there is life he may get well I prey that he will.
Don’t give yourself any uneasiness about his not being attended to for no trouble or expence shall keep him from anything that is neaded, there is six of the boys from his regient that stays with him all the time & there never a more attentive set of men in the army than they are, they couldn’t do more for a brother.
Ma I will come to a close preying to have have the pleasure of writing to you soon that George is mending. Ma, I have written to you of Johns being captured he was captured on the fifth of July in a scrumish fight wome 12 miles from Atlanta, I am in hops he is doing well.
I remain your true and affection son, W.M. Milner
William Mark MILNER letter to Mother explaining death of brother George
(beginning with the second page, sometime after August 26, 1864) – “And the balance of our army came to us the ememy then commence falling back towards Atlanta. Ma, I have written to you several times for the past few weeks not knowing wheather you ever gets any of my letters or not I am some what at a lost how to write.
I have riten to you of the deah of that dearly beloved Brother (George) several times but not knowing that you have received my leters I have to write again. He was wounded on the 18 of August on picket and died on the 26 of August. He was shot through the right side of the head I was with him from time he was shot until his deth he died very easily he didn’t speak for 12 hours before his deth. He new every body that came to see him but didn’t seam to be concious of the pain he was in.
Ma I have heard from John since he was captured he is at Camp Douglas (Illinois). He was well at the time I heard from him I expect to write to him in a few days. Ma I will close as we are expecting to move in a few minutes. I will write again by the first chance. You and Pa must write to me when you can for I want to hear from you very bad. W.M. Milner. Co A 31st Ten Reg; Starkes Brig; Cheathams Div; Army of Tenn. Submitted by Dan Freeman – letter copied from original letter in possession of George Kennedy, Martin, TN