"It is now nearly two weeks since the battle, and our camp is again
resuming its quiet and accustomed ways, as if no terrible conflict had
taken place over these grounds. All our wounded are gone, and are now
in the hospitals at home. I hope they will be well cared for, as I am
sure they will be.
"We don't know how long we will stay here, or what are the intentions
of the generals; but I think we shall remain for at least ten days.
General Halleck will hardly move till he has his army so disposed as
to make victory certain. He says, so it is reported, that enough lives
have been lost here, and that he will accomplish the rest without
much fighting. I suppose you all hope this will be the case. General
Hurlbut says he will not take his division into the next battle, if he
can prevent it, owing to its heavy losses in the late battle. In our
regiment and the brigade every third man was either killed or wounded.
"So you may rest in considerable quiet, as I think the probabilities of
_us_ having much fighting is very remote. But if it becomes necessary
and we are called upon, we will do our duty; you would want us to do
nothing less. I never expect to witness such another battle in my life;
it was most terrible and grand. I could not describe it; it is only to
be seen and heard. I had no conception of what a battle was before. The
Fort Donelson fight was a mere skirmish by the side of it. You will
preserve all things of interest in the papers, especially relating
to our regiment in the battle; but there were so many regiments in
the fight we do not expect to get much notice, especially as we have
no reporters in our employ. I trust, my dear Parke, you will have
confidence in my continued safety and health, wishing for a happy
termination of our troubles and my speedy return, remembering that
I will not expose myself or our regiment more than is essential to
our duty, safety, and honor. I send many kisses to my darling little
daughter."
My letter of the 20th acknowledges the receipt of the first letter from
my wife after the battle of Shiloh:--
"You cannot know how glad I was to receive your letter of the 12th.
I have read it over many, many times during the last two hours since
I received it. When I read your letter and knew with what feelings
of joy you learned of my safety, I could not keep back the tears.
I have something to live for and something to encourage me to do my
duty bravely, when I am assured of so dear and loving a wife and
such good relatives and friends. I was very anxious to hear from you
after the battle, and this was the first letter. I knew there would
be great anxiety at home both for myself and the regiment, so I sent
full particulars and list of the killed and wounded by the first
opportunity."
I have already given a copy of the letter I wrote my father the night
after the second day's fighting. Although I cautioned him that it was
only for the family, and not for the public, he was so much pleased
with and proud of it that he let the newspaper men take a copy of it.
The "New York Tribune," in publishing it on April 22, headed it with
this comment: "The following account of the great battle, written by
Major John W. Foster, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana, is the most clear
relation we have yet met with." In my letter to my wife of the 20th I
make this comment: "I was very sorry to see my letter to father in the
newspapers. I did not want it published. I so stated to him. I don't
want to blow my own trumpet. If the people at home can't learn of my
exploits in some other way, it is better that they should not hear them
at all. Don't publish any more of my letters unless I give my consent."
But other accounts than mine were published. I make an extract from one
of them written the day after the battle: "The Twenty-fifth has gained
fresh renown, and can point to their thinned ranks as the record of
their part in that dreadful fray. Colonel Veatch had two horses shot
under him while commanding the brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan was
wounded in the first fierce charge that brought down so many of his
men. Major Foster was everywhere in the thickest of the fight, leading
the charge or directing the backward movement. The men will follow
those officers anywhere and Indiana may justly be proud of them."