Gemmill, John – Died 1863

GEMMILL

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/20/2018 at 15:07:38

Source: New Oregon Plain Dealer June 5, 1863, Reprinted in Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer, FP, C6 Mar. 3, 1903

“From the North Iowa Regiment—We are permitted to publish that portion of a letter received by Thos. J. Powell from his brother, J. F. Powell, now before Vicksburg, relating to the causalities and condition of those in that regiment from this locality. The letter is as follows:

VICKSBURG, MAY 27, 1863.
BROTHER THOMAS: It is with sadness I sit down to write you a few lines. As for myself I am well and all right, but our regiment is all cut up. There are 14 wounded and killed in our company. Geo. A Owen, I am sorry to say, is one. They made a charge on one of the forts last Friday and were all cut too{sic} pieces. Geo. A. Owens, Billy McCrea, Robt. Hurley and Geo. Johnson were killed in the charge. Billy McCrea they have not found yet. The rest are buried. They have been fighting for 12 days. Our regiment went out to Jackson and skirmished all the way to Haines Bluff and Walnut Hill. John Gemmill and Isaac Demott died on the march. I will now give you the names of the wounded: Chester Inman in the leg, not dangerous; Stillman Converse in the thigh, not dangerous; Finley D. Pierce in foot, slightly; Andrew Miller lost an arm; John Freeborn in ankle; Fernando Reeves in arm and head. Capt. Webster led the boys gallantly and escaped unharmed, also Leut. Kemmery was not touched. John Logue was not hurt. “Stote” was not in the charge. I cannot think of all that escaped without being wounded, and probably have missed some that were, George {Owens} died at his post and in the charge of his duty. I regret his loss and chiefly on account of his poor wife, he thought so much of her, and wished so often he might be spared to go home. I have often heard him speak freely of how reckless some men are in going into battle, in some instances ushered into their Maker’s presence with an oath upon their lips. Lieut. Abernethy has just arrived from the regiment. He says there were 116 killed and wounded out of it. Capt. Kelsey is dead; he was wounded in the same leg as at Pea Ridge; amputation followed and death. Capt. Washburn was in command of the regiment, and was dangerously wounded. Lieut. Granger was acting adjutant, and had a desperate fight for the colors. The rebels had hold of the flag staf, he caught the flag, tore it off and placed it in his bosom; he was not wounded. It seems imposible{sic} to take Vicksburg, but our men say they are bound to take it. They had drove them to the last breastworks, but could not get over them without ladders, being so steep. Our men got in such a position that they could not use their cannon on them, so they cut the fuse and fired it and rolled the balls down on our men at the foot of the hill. I think we will be victorious at last, but it is going to take a good deal of hard fighting to take the town. We have them completely surrounded and can starve them out. Our boys that were taken prisoners say they had to eat corn bread and rotten beef.
Yours,
J. F. P."

Transcriber’s Note: The Siege of Vicksburg was from May 18 through July 4, 1863.