Chenango American, Greene, NY, August 8, 1861
Letter from Frederick Fowler - 27th NY Infantry
Washington, July 23, 1861
Dear Brother: Last Sunday was a day which I shall long remember, as will many others. We were marched to the place called Bull Run, where we fired into them and they at us as hard as they could, but they had such an advantage that they cut our troops all to pieces, and we retreated, they firing into us. We got back to a hill and laid down, and then we got up and went at them again. They were too much for us, for they drove us off the ground. Out of the regiment that I am in there are 300 and over killed. The colonel was shot but not killed. All the boys that went from Coventry have got back, but I don't think there are any of them but what got hit somewheres. Pole Elliott got his pant most all shot off of him, and others were hit, but not bad enough to lay them up. I think the next battle will be at Arlington Heights, but it is hard telling.
They have got more men than anyone tho't of, and they have got to be taken in a different shape. I don't think our company will see any more action very soon, as it is badly cut up. I think it will be kept as a guard in camp.
It was the hardest fight ever fought in this country. No one knows how many were killed on either side, but I hope there is as many of them as of ours, for after the Doctors had dressed the wounds of our men and taken them to the hospitals they came up and kill them all. That is enough to show what the devils will do.
Truly yours, Frederick Fowler
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