Veterans column: After Shiloh, Capt. Levi Coman takes command due to ailing officers
There was a gap in letters written by Capt. Levi Coman between March 24 and April 25, 1862. After the battle of Shiloh, the Confederates retreated to Corinth, Mississippi, while the Union Army camped near Shiloh. On April 24, the 76th Ohio Volunteer was ordered to accompany a handful of regiments, including one cavalry regiment and one artillery battery on a reconnaissance mission to Corinth.
“Dear Mattie. I sent you my last (letter) by Mr. Goodwin. He spent the night with me sleeping on my nice bed of poles. I have my tick (mattress) filled with nice straw, good springy poles for slats, with plenty of blankets all making a splendid bed. I was so delighted to have him come and chat a whole evening. I tell you we talked fast and late and the next morning when we were called into line of battle at 3 ½ o’clock, he did not seem to be at all concerned. I believe he would quite have enjoyed seeing us give the rebels a few shot and shell or taken a hand himself.
Veterans column: Levi Coman considers fellow officers friends, except Chaplain John McCarty
“Nothing has transpired of importance since I wrote you until yesterday when our regiment was ordered to join others at Shiloh Church and go toward Corinth as a reconnaissance in force. Our Colonel (Charles Woods) is again in command of the brigade. Our Lieut. Col. (William Woods) And Major (Reason Strong) are not yet well enough for duty. The command of the regiment was given to Capt. (Thaddeus) Lemert and myself. We started with great trepidation. I mounted the major’s horse and did my best as field officer. We went to the appointed rendezvous then found some six or eight regiments ready with 2 regiments of cavalry and a battery of artillery. We were in motion by 8 o’clock on the road to Corinth. On we marched the 8th Mo. (Missouri) and our own leading the column preceded by cavalry and artillery with our flanks protected also by cavalry. Away we trudged beyond our line of pickets, beyond our vidette’s and into an unknown region. Two miles advance and we drove in pickets and found only a rebel hospital where were gathered a great number of their wounded, two miles more and more pickets are driven in, another hospital. Then we marched on meeting only once in a while a stray shot until we were within 7 miles of Corinth and in the state of Mississippi. Here on a high hill we found a rebel camp, were formed in line drove in their pickets and after having about 20 shots they ‘Skedaddled’ our cavalry took 10 or 12 of them, burnt up their tents and equipage while our artillery tossed shell into the woods after them. Having thus found the road clear for an advance and done all that was desired the whole force was marched back again arriving at our camp by 5 p.m. having marched about 17 miles. The day was very warm and the men were greatly fatigued but we brought every man all safe and sound. I assure you Lemert and I both felt much relieved when we got back again within our picket lines.
“I suppose a letter in the usual style to the North American would make a brilliant affair out of this. Our ten or 12 prisoners would easily be made 10,000 or 12,000, our plunder of two regiments would easily count a whole army.” (To be continued.)
Doug Stout is the Licking County Library local history coordinator. You may contact him at 740.349.5571 or dstout@lickingcountylibrary.org.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Veterans column: After Shiloh, Capt. Levi Coman takes command
