Thread by @MrBeast

Today is Confederate Memorial Day in Alabama. To commemorate, I am "poasting" a letter from my gggg uncle, Capt T.M. Brindley, announcing the death of his brother, pvt Mace Brindley. Also detailing the glorious Sunday battle at Chickamauga; a stunning letter I'm proud to own.

Camp Near Chickamauga, September 25, 1863

Dear Father and Mother,

It becomes my painful duty to impart the melancholy tidings of the death (I fear) of Mace. He received, I think, a mortal wound of a Minnie ball in the left breast penetrating his left lung, in the battle Sunday

morning. I did not know it for the moment although nearly at my side. When the charge was over and we returned, I found him and carried him to the hospital where I was forced to leave him and rejoin my command. I got to see him again on Monday and heard yesterday, still living

but no hope for recovery. He is very calm all the time and quite rational, talking freely about death, is convinced he must die, and seems resigned.
He said he made preparations years ago to meet death when it came. He feels hopeful he is prepared, says he did not expect to be

killed in the war, desired to see his wife and children and die at home, did hope to raise his children, but is resigned to the will of God. He admonished me to prepare for death. He requested me to write to Ollie, she must consider this as her's since one letter tells it all.

As soon as I learn more I shall write again, if I get a chance to send it which I cannot always do.

Now a word as to the battle, the victory was brilliant and complete but for the terrible cost, the loss of many valuable lives, would be abundant cause for rejoicing. You have

doubtless read the account of the battle from much more graphic pens than mine, so I shall only attempt a few words as to our own command and what I saw myself. We (Deas Brigade) were not brought into the fight proper until Sunday morning. The battle had waged furiously all day

Saturday and opened with increased fury on our right. On Sunday morning before we, on the extreme left, entered, indeed I had become fearful of that, the enemy in our immediate front had moved in a different direction, so long did we wait for them to advance upon us, seeing they

would not we were ordered forward slowly in the line of battle and not to fire. The enemy's shot whistled over and struck us thicker and faster as we advanced; this excited us and we were not allowed to return fire. We advanced faster, I shot one man down within ten paces of me

with his gun pointed at me. While the result thus quivered in the scale, our reserve line came up in good order without firing guns until up with us, then all fired, we all yelled and dashed forward. All was over, they stood no more, the charge was bold and brilliant and

successful. But O' the cost, the terrible cost. Here fell poor Mace, a noble boy as ever lived, as brave a man as ever consecrated the temple of liberty with his heart's blood. Here also fell Col. Needham, at my elbow with the colors in his hand. Here also within three feet

of him also with colors in his hand fell Lieut. Renfro. Here also fell Lieut. Nett, Lieut. Mondeced, Lieut. Huff, and a host of others. Our company came 46 men in the fight, 3 killed and 27 wounded. The regiment carried 384 and lost 41 men killed and 164 wounded, the most

terrible loss recorded during the war. In this charge our brigade captured about 700 prisoners, 15 pieces of artillery, and demoralised that I was fearful they would not do well. They had been for a few days past somewhat aroused from this and did admirable with, of course, a

few exceptions which it is needless to mention.

Written by my 4x great uncle, Capt. Thomas Marion Brindley, announcing the death of another 4x great uncle, Mace Brindley. One half of the letter is lost to time. Capt. Brindley was captain in Deas Brigade,

First Alabama. He later fell in battle before Atlanta, 1864. Five of Asa Brindley's sons gave their lives in the Lost Cause.

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