Virgil,

My husband's gg grandfather, Richard F. Liles, was mortally wounded during this terrible battle. He, unfortunately, did not die instantly. We know from his widow's pension application that he was shot in the head. He was one of the soldiers deemed well enough to move and died later at a field hospital in Columbia, TN. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia. We assume that Pheba, his widow, knew of the head wound from her brothers who also fought in the 43rd MS. If she received such a letter, it has not, unfortunately, survived to this day.

Thanks for posting the poignant reminder of our ancestors' years of sacrifice.

Linda