I pretty well have what I need for the 71st now, but thank you. I'd like to hear about Korff's military service in Germany if you ould email me at infidelgrunt@yahoo.com, I'd appreciate it. I'll get it sooner and I can reply sooner. I've been having a very hard time lately with my health, coded at hospital twice in past three weeks, but I'm doing a little better. As soon as I'm able, I'll put together what I have on Korff at Richmond with his 71st Indiana. His unit suffered a higher percentage of casualties than any other in any battle of the entire War. Conventional wisdom is that the US unit that suffered the highest casualty rate in a single battle was the 1st Minnesota Infantry at Gettysburg, where they lost 82.3%. But in fact, the 71st lost far more, both in numbers and percentage, but due to the obscurity and the lack of press coverage(which is a shame),the 1st Minn has always held that distinction. Going into the Battle of Richmond, the 71st was at about full regulation regimental strength, likely just over 900 men and officers. In short,Sir,they were annihilated. The high command and officer corp was wiped completely out, practically all KIA or WIA. Even before the Federals' last stand at the Richmond Cemetery, they had been so decimated that the strength of the entire unit of some 900+ men was down to only two companies of about thirty troops in each. When it was over, the 71st Indiana had suffered 834 casualties, killed, wounded, and captured, more than any regiment suffered in any battle of the War. Of that number,at least 241 were cut down, KIA or seriously wounded. If they started 30 AUG 1862 with 900 men, they lost over 93%, but if they did have the full 1,000(which they certainly DID NOT), then they still suffered 83.4% casualties, higher than the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg. That regiment had been in the service for less than two weeks and had no business whatsoever to fight a battle in the open against Cleburne's veterans, arguably the best soldiers in the Confederacy's Western armies. They were sacrificed for the Federal command's unpreparedness in Kentucky. I am putting the finishing touches on my book, "Blood on the Bluegrass:The Battle of Richmond,KY", and after editing these last couple chapters, I'll be sending it in and should have the first copies out within the next 6 weeks, WE ARE HOPING&PRAYING. It's just been hard to finish, running back and forth to doctors and hospitals, and being in so much pain that my wife had to hide my rifles a couple times. Well, Sir,email me when you get a chance and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Mike