Albert Bondurant Letter

April 11th 1862
Camp at Monterey Tenn

Dear Laura
You will see by the flag at the head of this sheet that I have been in a Lincoln Camp-One week ago yesterday we left Corinth to meet the enemy and on Sunday engaged them on their own ground and at night we occupied their tents & took supper from their stores-fared sumptuously. On Monday we renewed the attack-we found during the
day that Buell had during the night landed large reinforcements and at 3 o'clock Gen Beauregard withdrew his army after firing his last gun-the first day was a brillant affair and I shall never forget the scenes that I saw that day - the roar of battle was terrible & extended for 4 miles-Military men say there never was such a hard contested field on this continent before-The falling back however was a great damper-by this we lost an immense amount of tents, army stores, etc-

We have about 3000 prisoners among them Gen Prentiss-On Tuesday evening while covering the retreat of our army-Our Company about 100 of Col Forrest's men & 100 Texas Rangers charged a company of cavalry & 3 Regiments of infantry-the charge is considered a gallant one. We occupied the Center and were in the hottest of the fire-7 of our men were
wounded & missing-2 missing-none wounded severely-You don't know any of them--Captn Harrison has written their names etc. Horace and myself are very well. It is thought now that the enemy are moving but no one knows their destination-I fear that it is to some point on the Mississippi River - as I have just heard that our troops had surrendered Island No 10

During the fight on Sunday & Monday our regiment were frequently exposed to the blue whistles & shell-I saw and was in a few feet of Lt. Love of Captn Lenors Co.-when he was killed by a minnie-ball-& never spoke-a spent ball struck me on the leg-but made no impression-only smarted a little-We killed a great many of their men-

I think at least 6 to 1 of ours-I recd a letter from you while the battle was raging-and tore it up-I recd two more 2 days since-dont be alarmed about me-I am in fine health-and stand the racket very well- it is pretty rough but if we can conquer will stand anything. Dont think of coming up here it is the worst place you ever saw-and we will be on the move all the time-If you wish you can go to Jackson and spend a few weeks until the excitement abates some-I am very anxious to see you and the children-take good care of yourself-I want you to look well when come home-I am afraid that I will find your hair silvered over if you do not take things more quietly-Kiss the children. Love to John-I was sorry to part with him-but anxious for him to leave on your account- Keep up-All will be well yet I hope.

Your aff
Albert

A letter to his wife from Lt. Albert Bondurant, Tensas Cavalry
Received from Mary Bondurant, Transcribed by Edith Ziegler