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Letter from Capt. Jo Desha, 5th Kentucky Infantry Orphan Brigade
Augusta, Ga. Feb. 21, 1865
My Dear Sir,
Maj. Hays, who starts tomorrow for Richmond, has kindly consented to
carry letters for me, and I avail myself with peculiar pleasure of the
chance to write you. I acknowledged your favor last fall I think in which
you sent me the interesting letter from Doct. Campbell upon the subject
of
my queer wound. I used his treatment for a while but did not derive much
benefit from it except the blisters which my surgeon pronounced
unnecessary. My hand has improved very much however and I hope in a very
short time to be able to take command of my company of 12 men. Was at the
brigade at Aiken, S. Ca. a day or two. Left it yesterday feeling unusual
as yet to the duty of a "cavalry man on a rampage"- which they
about
starting on. "Brother" Ben is still at Montgomery in a disabled
condition,
but comfortable & improving. I think I wrote you after I rec'd from
you
the telegrams concerning that Brigadiership. I have much to thank you for
my dear sir. I believe I did not answer yours from S.W.Va., Sherman
having
cut communications shortly after it was received causing me to put it off
from time to time- Expected to have been in Richmond before this time on
cars but have been prevented by various causes.
Gen'l Lewis has urged me recently to go there or, rather has urged me
in case I should go there, to try to assist him in getting our brigade
ordered to Ky. to establish a permanent lodgement. His reasons are pretty
good ones too for the move. He thinks that we could hold a position in E.
Ky. near enough to the plains to subsist against a very large force of
the
enemy - this giving employment to more of their forces than we could
elsewhere do - could recruit our ranks largely from those men in Ky. that
will not come out to join us. That in case of Sherman's overrunning N.
&
S.C. we will be forced to depend on Ky. & Tenn. for subsistence &
avail
ourselves of that advantage we should soon begin movements in that
direction. Certainly if any such movement were contemplated, what brigade
would be the proper one to be sent there and perhaps the other Ky.
commands.
The justice too of giving the brigade a fair chance to recruit by
furloughing men & officers in various parts of the state he dwells
upon
... and I am almost a convert to his opinion, little as opinions are in
the habit of interesting me in war matters.
Affairs do look a little blue now - But something is bound to "corn
up" to our advantage I think. The defection and demoralization in
our army
is appalling - mostly attributable to want of discipline, consequent upon
a prolong campaign. There is more dodging & skulking hereabouts than
I
once believed. Our brigade is pretty gay - desertions from it are
unfrequent of course. I hope indeed it be deemed advisable to send it to
Ky. I may come to Richmond in a few days. Am strongly tempted to apply
for
a leave. My hand will render field service in cavalry quite annoying for
some little time yet. Please speak a word in favor of Gen. Lewis'
project,
if it meets your approbation.
Colonel I would like to be lifted out of my present position if
practicable, but I do not know what to ask for, so I suppose had better
wait till something presents itself that I may be considered fit for,
hoping that when it may occur, I may not be so unfortunate as to be
unable
to accept as was the case last fall.
Hoping to learn soon that you are well. With grateful & pleasant
memories of your many kindnesses & of what we may now call old times
Your friend
Jo. Desha
Col. Wm. Preston Johnston
Richmond Va.
NOTES: Capt. Jo Desha entered Confederate service as Captain of Co. C,
1st
Kentucky Infantry, in April 1861. When that regiment’s 12-month service
was up, he organized Co. I, 9th Kentucky Infantry, in the Orphan Brigade.
This company was transferred to the 5th Kentucky Infantry in August 1863,
and returned to the Orphan Brigade with the 5th in October 1863. Capt.
Desha led a distinguished career in the Confederate Army, twice being
named to the Roll of Honor for heroism in action (Murfreesboro and
Chickamauga). He was once presented an engraved revolver by President
Jefferson Davis.
Col. William Preston Johnston was the son of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston.
He too had been a member of the 1st Kentucky Infantry, before being
promoted to Colonel and aide-de-camp to President Jefferson Davis.
Serving
as the President’s private secretary, he wielded considerable influence
behind the scenes in Richmond.
Capt. Desha’s wound, alluded to in his letter, was a severe one,
suffered
in the Orphan Brigade attack at Dallas, Georgia, 28 May 1864. His left
arm
was so badly shattered that he did not regain the use of it during the
remainder of his service. His brother Ben Desha, serving as Major of the
9th Kentucky, had been wounded and disabled at Jonesboro, at the end of
the Atlanta Campaign.
Capt. Desha was offered a commission as Brigadier General in September
1864, to replace Gen. Adam R. Johnson in southwestern Kentucky, but he
was
obliged to decline due to his disabling wound.
The Orphans never totally abandoned their dream of returning to serve on
their home soil, and their status as mounted infantry seemed for a time
to
give promise of making such a move a reality. Many of the Kentuckians
urged their friends in Richmond to support such a move, and Col. Johnston
was probably in favor of it as well. But the needs of the service kept
them in South Carolina until the end of the war.
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