The following letter was written to Mrs. Jane McPherson, mother of Thomas McPherson, who was killed in action at the Battle of Lynchburg, June 18, 1864. The letter was from his Company Commander, as all letters of soldiers' deaths would have been written. It was submitted to the Bureau of Pensions with hopes Mrs. McPherson could qualify for a pension under the Pension Act. Thomas was her sole support. [copied exactly as written]
Mrs Jane McPherson
Madam,
I am under the
painful necessity of informing
you that your
son is one among the killed
at Lynchburg Va June
18th / 64 about 3 oclk P.M.
We were ordered to advance
on the enemy works, which we
did within two hundred
yards of the entrenchments.
We halted. Soon afterward
Thomas was struck with a musket
ball above the left
Eye, and fell sensless to the
ground. We was ordered
Sometime afterwards to fall
back which was done
And our dead and wounded was
left on the field.
Thus a good soldier
ready and willing
To obey all orders is gone from
among us. We sympathise
With you and mourn his loss.
But such is the fortunes
of war.
The papers in his
case will be made out promptly
There will be no difficulty
in regard to his back pay.
Yours
very respectfully
Sgt David Somerville
For
James W. Williamson
Capt Co K 11th Regt West Va Infty