Manuscript Database
Creator/Title
Patterson, Egbert C., b. ca. 1846. Letters, 1864-1865. 4 items.
Call No.
Mss. C P
Content
Written to his mother, Rachel Gore Patterson (1805-1889), and sister in 1864 and 1865, the letters of Pvt. Egbert C. Patterson of the 12th Indiana Cavalry describe his military service in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. In a letter dated 18 May 1864 from Green River, Kentucky, he describes a recent scout into the mountains while his regiment was en route from Louisville to Nashville, Tennessee. He writes, "just as we came at the foot of the mountain we seen fifteen (rebels)," adding, "they fired on us but did not hit any of us." He relates that, "the bullets came close to my head" and claims that they killed three of the enemy.