Manuscript Database
Creator/Title
Martin, J. T. R. (James T. R.), 1844-1919. Letter, 24 Nov. 1861. ALS, 2 pp.
Call No.
Mss. C M
Content
In a letter to his "Ma" dated 24 Nov. 1861 at Cloyd's Plantation near Dublin, Va., Pvt. J. T. R. Martin of the 8th Va. Cav. describes the recent raid on a Union outpost on the Ohio River. He writes that his unit has returned, "with 90 prisoners which we took at Guyandotte after a march of near 200 miles." He adds, "It took us 6 days to go there & 2 weeks to reach this place." He boasts, "we took the Yankees completely by surprise & killed about 30 took 96 prisoner & suppose (only) 15 or 20 escaped." He reports that, "We lost only 2 men one of them killed by our own men." He comments, "I suppose you have heard of (Gen.) Floyd's retreat from Cotton Hill."