Monday. Thus was passed the most terrible Sabbath of my life. The dead & wounded lay everywhere, & the stretchers were carrying them all day. I can form no estimate of the loss, but it must have been very large, several hundred. Sergeant Allen of Co. “E” was instantly killed on the charge, & several in other companies wounded, but God in mercy spared all my company, for which I desire to render him the highest gratitude of which my heart is capable. We can account for every man except F. Holbrook, who has not yet come in, but I think he is safe, as he fell out before we reached the most dangerous spot. Have not paper to record a tenth part of the incidents of the day, but they will live in my memory while I live. God forbid that we should be called to such another day’s experience. I think by this time that the hope of carrying the place by a charge is abandoned—at any rate till more suitable place[] for it can be found. Our Reg’t. behaved well through the day, & Col. Jerrard was as fearless as a man could be, exposing himself continually—no man could have done better. No officer of the Reg’t. faltered for a moment, or or[!] showed the least disposition to shirk his duty. Holbrook reached camp about noon unharmed. Haskell has been sent to Baton Rouge with other wounded. He is not very badly hurt, I think. Col. J. was notified this P.M. that he is “under arrest”—supposed to be for disobeying an order to charge over the breastworks yesterday P.M. Had he made the charge at the time & place, & led it himself, (as he certainly would) I presume every man of us would at this time have been either dead or a prisoner. Old[!] Regiments had tried it in the morning, & failed, & every one of our Reg’t. officers & men feels that the Col. was right, and not one doubts his courage. The officers held a meeting, & chose a committee of three (Capts. Case, Bolton & Gilman) to assure Col. J. of the approval of his officers of his course yesterday, & that they will sustain him.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]