Ernestus Schermerhorn & Ann Johnson

Children of Ernestus Schermerhorn and Ann Johnson

Ernestus Schermerhorn

Ann Johnson

Clarissa Schermerhorn

Infant son Schermerhorn

George Washington Schermerhorn

George Schermerhorn enlisted at the outbreak of the Civil War in the 44th
Inf Reg of Volunteers and attained the rank of corporal. He was at home
on leave at the time of the Battle of Pittsburg Landing when he hears
that his buddy Gus Galloway had been killed. He returned while still
weak and over exerted himself carrying wounded from the battle field and
was taken to a hospital in Nashville. Dr. White of La Grange who was the
company doctor had his remains buried in a marked grave and his brother
William went for his remains.

Excerpts from a letter to his sister Elizabeth
Feb. 11, 1863
Camp Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Dear Sister,
I have got tired waiting to hear from you so I thought I would write
you another letter. When we were in Nashville I sent you my likeness and
have never heard from it so I lay it to one of two things either the
miscarriage of the letters or your forgetting to write but I guess the
last is not the case. The regiment that brother John is in is close by
here so that we can have good visits together. The army is doing a
little much of the time. Our regiment has een on hard duty the last 5
days such as foraging digging breast works and standing picket but it is
all good for a solider's health. If a soldier is let laze around he gets
so lazy that he is almost sure to be sick. Such works as our men are
putting up here looks more like holding this place with a smaller lot of
men than has been done before. This point seems to be the point the
Sesesh boys wanted but the western boys with their favorite Rosy at the
head has driven them almost from the state again. I was in the fight on
the 31st and then was in on the second day of the new year. The first
day we were on the right and fought the troops that drove McCook from the
right. Here we went out with 90 men in our company and had 3 of them
wounded. This was not an average of the loss to the companies in our
brigade others being larger. We were flanked and came pretty nigh being
taken alive but owing to our good legs we got away and rallied driving
the rebels back as fast as they had us in the start. After driving them
back we lazed in the line the rest of the day. When night came on we
were moved to the left where we belonged in the morning. The whole line
on the left was moved up some half mile. Here we had to lay in the mud
for it was a cornfield that our line stretched across. In this placed we
lazed one day and night with now and then a bullet whizzing by as if in
search of its prey. There was no damage done by these shots. But in the
afternoon of the second skirmishers reported the rebel line coming on and
we did not have to wait long for they were strong and came as though they
meant to go to Nashville at once. Our men gave them such a warm
reception that they almost broke back but finally overpowering us they
drove us back to some woods where our lines came to a halt and they just
mowed us down as they crossed an open field. There must have been one
third of them killed and wounded that came to this field. I never
thought of seeing such a sight and never want to see another. We had
only one man hurt this day. After the battle I helped take care of the
wounded Sesesh all the night. I can say that I never passed 5 days so
hard in all my life. I pray that there may never be another such fight,
but if duty calls, I must go and do my duty. Lieut. Danseus was wounded
but not seriously. He was on the staff but is now at home. Write soon.

G.W.
Schermerhorn

Isaac Schermerhorn