Love letter - May 11, 1862

Corinth Miss
May the 11th 1862

Dear Sister:
I embrace the present opportunity of writing to you a few lines to let you know how we are getting on also to inform you of the prospect of a battle here also to tell of a small battle between Some 10,000 of the Federal and about 5,000 of our troops though there was near 25,000 of us on the field but we all did not get into the fight and had it not been for a misfortune in getting a courier killed that was sent to Gen Price with orders to cut them off from the bridge across a large creek that was in their rear we would have bagged the whole arrangement. but as it was they got away by doing some responsible running though they did not run until they had tried to take one of our batteries but in making the attempt they caught thunder their cavalry and infantry both. I will here state that I was there but did not get into the fight. I will also state that I never saw a cooler set of men in my life there was not not the least excitement although we were expecting to be in the affray every minute The fact is every one was surprised at himself for we all expected to be more or less excited before we got into it. We drove them about two miles and burnt their bridge and took down their telegraph wire. It would be impossible for me to give the number killed or wounded on either side though I saw three dead men 2 of them were Feds and one of ours one of the Feds had his head shot off. We captured several prisoners and some of their artilery the fight took place on the 9th. We have heard since that they have crossed the creek and came to Farmington a little town four miles from our intrenchments.It will not be many days before the battle comes off and we intend to give them one of the most complete thrashings they ever got. We have about 125,000 and the Feds 150,000 Soldiers here so you will see that we are nearer equal than we have ever been since the war began. The forces at Shiloah was 32000 against 75000 the Federal loss killed wounded and missing was 13,000 and ours 6000. I have at last heard of Cy and Andrew Cy was wounded at Donaldson but is well and belongs to Col Whartons {Terrys old} Regt but Andrew is dead though I expect you have heard of them before I did. I intend to try to get a transfer to that Regt for myself and John. I saw John Menes who first told me about him and I saw Griffin Kenady who told me that he was in his company. I will have to close this letter. The boys are all well except John Sharp and there is nothing serious the matter with him. We reorganised today and elected our field and company officers We are in for two years longer if the war does not terminate sooner. I did intend to come home this coming winter but the conscript law will not allow any one to leave So we all volunteered again and I reckon it is well enough that the act was past and became a law. The worst feature that I see in it is this .. it is a tyrannical law and is consequently a bad precedent but I think the necessities of the cause required that something should be done. It is the the opinion of almost every body that the war will not last longer than this year but I donot think it will be closed until after two hard battles are fought one in Va and the other in Miss --. They will have to leave N.O. this summer or the yellow fever will kill them all. It is reported here that the members to Congress from the western States have resigned and say they will not go back until this war is settled. The cause of it was Lincoln's Abolition message to Congress. I do not believe it. I am in good health. Give my love to all the family and relations and to all enquiring friends and to yourself a brothers love. S.B. Love.

May the 13th

We will leave camp this evening but I do not know where we are going though it is thought that we are going to attack the enemy. It is reported that the Tenn River has fallen so that the Fed Gun Boats have had to go down the River and if it is true Gen Beauregard knows it and I expect that if they are gone so that they cannot protect them it is more than likely that the attack will be made tomorrow

[Unsigned, but believed to be written by Sam Love.]

Love Family Correspondence. Special Collections, Burnett Library, Texas Christian University. Fort Worth, TX. (TCU Box 298400)