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Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904 to Mary Epperly

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02715.082 Author/Creator: Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904 Place Written: Dalton, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: February 1, 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : Order a Copy

Notes that he has received several letters from her including one dated 4 August 1863. Says the army is falling back towards Atlanta, Georgia. Also reports an account of mutiny that took place in December where officers attempted to punish a group of soldiers by forcing them to wear barrels (a common punishment in both armies). When the soldiers refused, a regiment was brought up to enforce the punishment. Still not willing to submit to their punishment, the offenders formed a line and fired on the regiment, killing 10 and wounding 100 of their comrades.
"[O]ur men had a little Brush amon[g]st them selves. They went to put a flower bar[e]l on some of thear men and the men busted them to peases an[d] would not let it be don[e] and the Colenal had a Regt. ordered up to force them to put it on an[d] while he was goan [gone] they formed a line of battle an[d] when the other Regt. cam[e] up they fired in them and kilt 10 and wounded one hundred and did not get the barrels on atall."

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

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