July 30th, 1863 [Thursday]. Camp, near Warrenton, VA
Mr. I. M. Fisher, My Dear Sir:
I received you note of the 3rd inst.
I can assure you it is not the least trouble to furnish you with all the information in my power, concerning the death of your son, who I always esteemed as a friend.
The Brigade which the 10th U.S. Infantry formed a part, was drawn up in line of battle to the north of Round Top Mountain. In front of our line was deep ravine, about three or four hundred yards in width, with a swamp running through the center, and on each side, the ground was covered with large stones and rock which we had to cross before reaching the woods in our front.
About 4 ½ o’clock P. M. we received orders to move forward on the double quick and take the woods in our front. We crossed the ravine with the loss of a few men, when we received orders to halt about ten yards from the woods. We remained in this position about ten or fifteen minutes, when we received orders to move up to the edge of the woods and halt, which we did, when the 2nd Infantry and the 10th Infantry battalions received orders to wheel to the left and relieve a Brigade of the 2nd Corps, which had moved up while we were in line of battle, about ten paces from the woods. After our three battalions made the left wheel, our brigade formed two sides of a square, we remained in this position about ten minutes, when I discovered Rebels on our flank and moving down on our front in heavy force, and as the Colonel commanding the brigade had not yet taken notice of the Rebels flanking his Brigade on the right, I left my company and started to the rear, after going about twenty paces, I found the Colonel and informed him that the Rebels had turned his right flank. I then returned and joined my company. When we received orders to fall back to the edge of the woods but before we were out of the woods the Rebels were some distance out so instead of halting at the edge of the woods we received orders to fall back to our first position on the hill. Your son must have received his death wound while I was back giving Colonel Burbank information about the Rebels being in his rear. As I did not know Lt. Fisher had been struck until after the company had moved back out of the woods some twenty or thirty yards when I met Lts. Welles and Hamilton, 1st Sergeant McCabe of Co G and one man of H Co, carrying some officer. I stopped and asked Lt Hamilton who it was, when he replied poor Fisher, I then walked over to the party and looked at your son who I knew was about breathing his last. I then asked Mr. Hamilton if he had spoke or not since he had been shot, answers not, not one word. I then had to leave the party as my company had got some distance in advance of me. Telling them to hurry on with your son as the Rebels were close in their rear. I had no watch on at the time but I would judge it to have been about 5 o’clock that your son received his death wound.
His sword and scabbard was left where he was shot as those around him thought of nothing but getting his body off the field of battle and his sword belt I am sorry to say was taken from his body before we could get to it the second time. As the party I spoke of before having had two of their number wounded. The other two, Lt. Hamilton and the man belonging to Co. H, had to leave the body just the other side of the marsh from the woods we first advanced from.
Enclosed you will find a small sketch of the ground we fought over on the 2nd of July/63. On one end of the card you will see a dark line in ink with 2nd Brigade marked under it, which is the position our Brigade had first, and then made the advance over to the other piece of woods, keeping on the left of the road all the way over. After reaching the woods as I told you in the first part of the letter, the 2nd, 7th, and 10th Infy. Made a left wheel, the position we then held you will see by two dark lines in ink.
Where your son was shot can be seen by the dark ink spot, just above the number ten, which indicates the number of the Regiment. The reason I have for judging that to be the spot is from what Lt. H. told me. I had the right companies and Lt. Fisher was on the Left of G Co. which was the left company of the two and from the size of the regiment would bring my company about that spot. The day of the Battle your son was Lt. of G Co. I, having received orders to take command of the H & G companies; the companies being so very small.
The man who placed the head board and prepared the card that was fastened to it was also one of the men who helped to bring your son. His name is John A. Buchan, a private of company H, 10th U.S. Infantry.
And as for your son being honest and brave, I will answer in this way. Your son joined the Regiment about the 16th of March 1862 from which time to his death we had always been together. I have been in every battle with your son and I do not think there was a braver or more honest officer in the U. S. A.
Captain E. G. Bush, 10th Infantry, has charge of your son’s watch and clothing and desired me to ask you what you wished him to do with them. He shall keep your son’s effects ’till called for or send them to you by express.
Your son was struck in the left side just below the heart.
I suppose you would like to know the numbers lost out of the Battalion your son belonged to as it was his last battle. The 10th Infantry was eighty-one strong going into battle. The next day all we could muster was thirty having lost fifty one in action and out of that number seventeen where killed on the field and one or two since. A large number of the wounded lost their limbs since.
You will please excuse this letter as I am a poor hand at writing letters and had nothing but my bed to write on.
If there is any thing else I can do for you or give you any more information I will be very happy to attend to it.
I am Sir
Most respectfully your friend, Geo. S. Lauman,10th U. S. Infantry
PS: Lt. Hamilton will write you later on tomorrow.
