American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Online

[CIVIL WAR]. Letter from Henry J. Madill as Colonel of the 141st PA Volunteers, describing being "shot at...13 times" during the Mine Run Campaign. "Hd Qrts 141st Pa Vols.," 2 December 1863. [With:] Regimental history volume.

MADILL, Henry J. ALS as Colonel of the 141st PA Volunteers, describing being "shot at...13 times" during the Mine Run Campaign. "Hd Qrts 141st Pa Vols.," 2 December 1863.

One page, 7 7/8 x 10 in., heavily creased at folds, with toning and some holes along creases, small separations to edges, corner creases, and some brown spotting throughout. Accompanied by unused envelope addressed to "Col. H. J. Madill, Com'd'g 141st Pa. Vols."

In this letter addressed to his mother, Madill writes:
"I have not written you before this for the reason that I have not had the time. We have been marching nearly all the time since my return to the Reg. / I wrote Thomas asking him to pay you the $90.00 due you. I suppose he did so. I left Amelia and her family in good health. / God has mercifully spared me through another hard fought battle, in which my Reg. lost heavier than any other in the Brigade. / On Sunday of the battle at orange grove, and while my Reg was on duty (picket) at Mine run, a Reb sharpshooter shot at me 13 times during the day, while I was on duty - Sometimes coming pretty close to me, so close that the aim would sting the flesh on my face & neck. / I am well, we are in Winter quarters, leaves & furloughs are being granted. I think I will be home in January."

Henry Madill (1829-1899) enlisted at the age of 32 as a major on 22 June 1861, being commissioned into the 35th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was promoted to the rank of colonel on 30 August 1862 and commissioned into the 141st Pennsylvania Infantry, in which regiment he served until the end of the war. He was breveted a brigadier general in December of 1864 and a major general in March of 1865. Just a month later, he was wounded at Petersburg on 2 April, about two months before being discharged at the end of May.

The 141st saw heavy engagement throughout the war, including the Battle of Chancellorsville, where it suffered 235 casualties including Lieutenant Colonel Guy Watkins, who was wounded and taken prisoner. The regiment then fought at Gettysburg, positioned at the angle on the right of the Peach Orchard, leaving the men exposed in the field and sustaining incredible losses amounting to nearly 70 percent of their number. The battle at Kelly's Ford and the Mine Run Campaign ended took them into the winter of 1863. Thereafter, the regiment participated in the Rapidan Campaign, battles at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Spottsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor before participating the Siege of Petersburg. The regiment was present at the fall of Petersburg and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House before mustering out on 28 May 1865.

[With:] Craft, David. History of the One Hundred Forty-First Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. 1862--1865. Baltimore, MD: Butternut and Blue, 1991. Reprint.