Samuel M. Back
Private, Company D, 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Private, Company D, 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The following is taken exactly as it appears from "History of Lawrence County, Kentucky," page 86. It should be noted that Samuel wrote this letter on September 6, 1864. He died October 11, 1864 at Marietta, Georgia. He is buried in the Marietta National Cemetery.
"A LETTER WRITTEN BY SAMUEL M. BACK
TO HIS WIFE DELILAH, DURING THE CIVIL WAR
This letter was written to Delilah Back by Samuel M. Back (Bachke), lst Brigade, 2nd Division, 13 or 23rd Army Corps to the 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry in Decatur, Georgia. Dated September 6, 1864. Submitted for inclusion by Maxine Beck. The spelling and punctuation is the same as the original letter. The blank spaces are for words that have become unreadable through the years.
"September 6, 1864 in Atlanta, Georgia
Dear wife, once more I take my pen in hand to inforin you that I am well and hardy and I hope and trust to God these few lines will come safe to ____ and find you in the best of health. I have ____ pothey of importance to write at the present time only I want to see you and the children worse than I ever did in my life for I have not had a letter from you since the 6th of August, but ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ have been on a raid of 12 days a way about ____ miles on the Mobile railroad. ____ ____ have come in to Atlanta last night, 2 companys ____ ____ and the 18th Ky came as a escort for Capt. Gallop of the 13 KY. It is the talk that our Corps is a comin back here and station 6 miles from here at a little town called Decatur on the Atlanta and Richmond railroad, but I don't know whether it is so or not. But I hope it is so if we can't get to come back to Ky. But one this it is that they cannot keep us very much longer now no how. If we live and I hope and trust to God that we will be spared to return home once more to our homes in peace.
Now Delila my dear wife I will tell you all the news that I can. Bud Pack is dead he had the fever and they say the Bob Carter is dead. Bob was in our Co and now I will tell you about our raid as near as I can. Our Corps marched out on the left flank and went beyond a little town called Rough and Ready and the 16 Corps charged the town and took 300 prisoners and then our division marched around on the left of Jones Burrour and the 14th Corps marched up to the town and had to fight ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ and then the ____ ____ ____ have not heard but it was a heavy loss on both sides for I seen about 12 or 1300 wounded rebs and our wounded did not see and about 2 miles beyond that place the rebs made a stand was a bilden works and our troop went around that and just into daylight the pickets fired on them and made a charge and took pieces of artillery and 3 KY (rebel) regiments. Now I will tell you the no. the 4, 5, and 6 and they say that at the 3 places, Atlanta and the other 2, that I have told above we have taken between 18 and 20 thousand prisoners and on the ____ this ____ ____ 11 oclock at nite we left the ____ and marched 7 miles that nite and yesterday morning at 6 oclock we started and marched here and got here at half past ____ oclock ____ miles and to day I can ____ ____ I am sore and stiff and all of the rest of our Co. So with these few lines I will have to close. So I bid you fairwell for this time so I want you to write me ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ the news that you can."
He traced his hand on the envelope and drew pictures of trees on the outside. He addressed the letter: From S. M. Back; To Mrs. Delila Back and children Granville Back, Leanor Back, William S. Back.--by Maxine Beck
Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, GA
"History of Lawrence County, Kentucky," compiled by Regina Tackett, Patricia Jackson, Janice Thompson; Curtis Media Corp., Dallas, TX, 1991.
This information is provided for personal, non-commerical use ONLY.
You may write to me at email Beverly L. Pack
Lawrence County, Kentucky Veterans There's No Place Like Home