Letter from Benjamin Karne to Colonel

Creator:

Karnes, Benjamin

Scope and content:

Written from Winchester, Virginia. Letter describes circumstances surrounding the wounding of a fellow soldier.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Don't be uneasy about Ben he will be well taken care of. J.

Winchester
17th July 1864

Dear Col.
I have just arrived here for the purpose of telegraphing to you to let you know that Ben was very seriously wounded through the right lung on yesterday, but I hope not dangerously, but find there is no communication by telegraph. I will give you the Circumstances as near as I can. He and myself left the road some half mile for the purpose of getting dinner. After getting dinner was coming back to the road, not thinking that there was a Yankee in ten miles of us & the first thing we knew we rode into a Yankee picket post. Ben drew his pistol (I had no arms) to fire on the one nearest to him. The Yankee raised his Carbine, they both fired about the same instant & both fell from their horses wounded. The Yankees jumped up & ran. Ben fired four other shots at him but missed him, the other Yankees having run. I got Ben up on his horse to carry him off but after carrying him a short distance he got too weak to ride. I then had to take him down & leave him as the Yankees were coming up the road again. As soon as I got to the road I got an ambulance & a Company of Sharp Shooters & went back after him & brought him on to our Camp last night near Berryville. He rested very well last night & is in a good deal better this morning than I expected he would be. The Doctors examined his wound this morning & say it is a severe wound but don't consider it a dangerous one. He will be taken to Mr. Cook's today (near Millwood) where he will get every attention & I am in hopes will soon be well enough to be moved to a safe place. I can't tell what our movements will be. The Army has gone into Camp about Berryville, 10 miles South E. of Winchester. After I left Ben, the Yankees came up to him. They gave him some water & took his watch and pistol. They also asked him a good many questions which I am sure were not very satisfactorily answered.
My best respects to all,
Ben Karnes

Subjects:

Soldiers—Virginia—Correspondence
Correspondence

Names:

Karnes, Benjamin

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