The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Death of Col. Lucien Greathouse: A First-Hand Account
Letter from William H. Odell who served in Co. B of the 48th Illinois. Letter in the Illinois State Historical Society.
"on the 22nd the enemy charged our works and tried to swing both our right and left flanks but we gave them a good and genteel whipping taking as estimated by General Logan 12 Thousan & 50 prisoners. besides killing greate numbers, in this Battal our Colonel [Lucien Greathouse] was killed, poor fellow he was so good a Man as ever drew lifes breth.
"I loved him as a brother for he always treated me as such. he fell amid the hotest of the contest with his sword in one hand & his hat in the other, cheering his never failing men to victory.
"fighting hard until night our Boys was very tired of over heat, for it was a vary hot day. one Rebel Colonel Rode up to our works & demanded a surrender, but he soon fell to the ground, a victim to death & notorious trator to his country."
Spelling left as it was but paragraphs inserted.
Wonder What Happened to Lucien's Sword? --Old Secesh
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2 comments:
Just saw Antiques Road Show, where a descendent of Lucien, brought in the sword. It seems the family still posesses the sword. It was jeweled and very ornate.
His ceremonial sword is owned by his family and was featured on Antiques Roadshow. I have submitted pictures of it to findagrave.
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