242. Civil War Letter From Museum Files, Puckett, Huffman, Mincer.

RCHS Blog Post Number 242. 

Civil War Letter From Museum Files, Puckett, Huffman, Mincer.

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Editorial by Mick Holloway

October 17, 2021.  

     This letter was written by Francis M. Puckett who enlisted in the Union Army, first with the 8th Indiana Volunteer Infantry for 3 months service on April 18, 1861. This regiment was the first one organizes containing a Company of Randolph County soldiers and served until Aug. 6, 1861. During this time they took part in the battle of Rich Mountain, Virginia on July 11, 1861, one of the first battles of the Civil War.

     After 3 months were up, nearly the entire regiment re-enlisted in the 8th I.V.I. for 3 years on Sept. 5, 1861.

     They served most of their time along the Mississippi river and then back to Virginia in late 1864. The regiment was finally mustered out at Savannah, Ga. on Aug. 28, 1865, some 4 months after the war had ended.

     The letter was written to George D. Huffman, who was probably still at home in Randolph county. Puckett eventually joined Co B, 119th I.V.I. which contained the 7th Ind. Cavalry. This regiment was mustered in on Oct. 1, 1863 and mustered out at Austin, Texas on Feb. 18, 1866 after serving under Gen. George Armstrong Custer.

     George D. Huffman was the blacksmith for Co B and was captured by the Confederate forces at Okolona, Miss. on Feb. 22, 1864.

     The Anthony Mincer mentioned in the letter also belonged to Co B and was killed in battle at Vicksburg shortly after this letter was written. 

                                                                                                                                                                 mh

Shirleys house during siege of Vicksburg during American Civil War. Photo via <a href="https://www.goodfreephotos.com/">Good Free Photos</a> (2001)

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Puckett's Letter

April 31, 1863. 

Puckett's letter as written:        Vicksburg    Aprile the 31  1863

i am well and i hope that these few lines may find you the same  george i reseved a letter from you the first day of this month  i reseved it at Magnoly hills on the battle field where we made a clean sweepe of the rebbles  george i am a righting this letter in the rear of vicksburg about a quarter of a mile from thare brest-work  we have bin her thirtteen dais and we have bin fighting every day but mostly with they artilery. on the 22 of this month they infantry made a grand charge on the rebble brest-work at vicksburg with our brigade in the lead  We lost a grate menny men  We lost a hundred and fifteen out of our regment and seven out of our Company and then had to fall back but we had the pleasure of planting our flag on thare brest work before we fell back  wod a charged on thru vicksburg if we culd a clymd the dam brest work but it was too steep fur us  they brest work was a bout tenn feet thick and they was on one side and we was on the outher side and narry one could rase a bove the brest work to shoot and so we thout that it wod not pay and so we got to Lighting bum (bomb) shells and throwing them over the brest work by hand and they soon lernt the sam trick and we made the fur fli on boath sides fur a while but the rebbles soon run out of bums and then we gave them hell agane fur a while till we got in a place wher we could yuse our guns and then we went to Shooting and then we kept it up till dark and then we fell back too our brest work We never entend to charge on Vicksburg agane fur we can take it without fur we hav it surroned and they cant get out nor nuthen in  george i hav bin in to fore fights cince the first day of May and i never gave back a foot and dont entend to fur it is Di or go thru me  george you wanted me to write and tell you if Anteny Mincer (Anthony Mincer) had got back  he has and he is as Brave a solder as ever left indina (Indiana)  we hav grubed the rebbles every battle wher we hav fout them and we ar a looking fur a surrender her every day  george i must close fur this time  Wright soon  Derect yore letter to Vicksburg  regment and company  From F. M. Puckett  G. D. Huffman  yourse truly  this is rebble Paper 

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Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

Read page 129-140 to read "Death Records And Cemetery History." Page 131article titled "Franklin Township Cemeteries: 1. Race Street" has a very brief description.

Read page 446 to read the family history of Joab Addington which was submitted by Joanne Moulton.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

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