October 19, 1917

PRISONERS AND VETERANS:
In the Third Mississippi Regiment

I have been a reader of the Farm News for a long time and have read the many letters the Confederate soldiers have written, and have enjoyed them so much. I was a Mississippi Volunteer, in Company H, Third Mississippi Regiment. This company was organized at Malone, Mississippi. E.M. Wells was Captain. J.W. Douglas, First Lieutenant; M.H. Shalton, Second Lieutenant; D.W. Wade (myself), Orderly Sergeant. Tom Davidson, from Ripley (Mississippi), was Colonel.

We organized the regiment at Iuka Springs (Mississippi), and then went to Nashvillle, Tennessee, and on to Bowling Green, Kentucky. There we drew our equipment. From there we marched North in different parts of the country, on to Hopkinsville. From there to Clarksville, Tennessee; from there to Dover and on to Fort Donelson. We went into battle there. Had only a few days of battle and we were captured as prisoners of war, and sent to Cairo, Illinois, and on to Chicago, Camp Douglas Prison. There we stayed seven months and one day. Then we were exchanged and from there went back to Cairo. Came down the river on a fleet of boats, twelve transports, six gunboats, and another boat. We were seventeen days and nights from Cairo to Vicksburg, Mississippi. We landed on the West side of the river and marched down to the ferryboat on foot and landed on the east side of the Mississippi River.

From there we marched to Jackson, Mississippi, and reorganized our regiment. J.H. Wells was our Colonel, the Twenty-Third Regiment; J. W. Douglas, Captain. We were under Joseph E. Johnston. Our major General was W.W. Loving, Brigadier General Tillman. Tillman was killed at Champion’s Hill Battle, B_____’s Creek, May 16, 1863. Then General Adams was our Brigadier General.

Then from Jackson, Mississippi, we skirmished up and down the Mississippi River until we went to Demopolis, Alabama. From there to Greensboro. From there to Manta Valley. From there to Blue Mountains. From there to Rome, Georgia. From there to Resa_?_a, Georgia, where we were in battle. We went into battle on may 15, 1864, and took their fort. That battle lasted five or six months. Lost Mountains on the Keneshaw Mountains were General Polk was killed. Then at New Hope Church in the month of June, we were in battle thirty days. Then we went across the Chattachoochie River. There in battle at Peach Tree Creek. Then on July 20 we were in battle on Buckhead Road. From there back fighting at Atlanta, Georgia, and 22d, 23d, and 28th charged Sherman’s army. Then Sherman flanked around us. Then Hood tore up the railroad to Dalton and captured lots of men. Hood took the army and went to Decatur. There to Florence, crossed the Tennessee River on a pontoon bridge. Then from there we went to Franklin, Tennessee on Nov. 30, 1864. From there to Nashville, Tennessee. December 15, 1864 (we were) in battle and all had to surrender.

After we attacked and were waiting for orders I said to my soldier-mates, “This means prison again. If you will follow me, live or die, we will go out.” They said, “Wade, if you lead, we will follow.” And I sure led them out. We made our way through the best we could and got back home. Having no command to go to then, as they were all killed or captured, I then joined Forrest’s Calvary and staye until they surrendered. I was in no more battles. I served with no charges against me at all.

I have raised a big family, all respectable men and women and children. I would be glad to hear from those were with me or knew me. I have a love for you all and Joseph E. Johnston. I think he was the grandest General on Earth, and W. W. Loviing is second with me. I served in Loving’s division most all the time I was out, Tillman’s Brigade. General Adams, who took his place, was killed at Franklin, Tennessee. I would be glad to hear from them and will answer all who write to me. I was born in 1835 and am now past 82 years old.

D. W. Wade
Ringling County
Oklahoma