Return to Mississippi Soldiers in the Civil War
July 31st, 1864
Emmett Ross to Mary Collins,
I hope to be with you very soon — just as soon as I can bear the fatigue of traveling and when the enemy will permit me to do so. I was very severely wounded in the charge of last Thursday. I was struck in the left knee by a minnie ball causing a very painful and ugly wound. The ball has not been extracted, but I will have it done as soon as I reach the Hospital. I am at this place on my way to some Hospital and when I reach one, will receive every attention. I am doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances and have been very kindly treated ever since my arrival here. I got here yesterday. Could not go farther as a yankee raiding party have torn up a portion of the rail road a few miles beyond this place. This little town is crowded with wounded soldiers. I never saw the like before, and the ladies, God bless them, are so kind to us and do all they can to alleviate our sufferings. My Brigade fought with great gallantry and sustained a very heavy loss. We fought the enemy in a thick woods and they behind breast works. They mowed us down like grass. I lay upon the field an hour after I was wounded and then concluded to crawl to the rear and avoid being captured - nearly all of our killed and wounded were captured. My regiment has only sixteen men left. We lost eight officers out of eleven who went into the fight, and thirty-eight men out of fifty-four. I saw your Brother an hour or two before the fight. I was unable to see him or hear from him since. I hope that he is safe. Well I will stop. I hope to be with you as soon as circumstances will permit
Emmett Ross Papers, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson..