This Day in Georgia Civil War History
September 25, 1863
Jourmal Entry on Son Being Hurt at Chickamauga
A Columbus man wrote in his journal of one of his sons being injured in the Battle of Chickamauga, plus noted the victory and added a comment on the price of cotton.
“Just gotten telegram from Willis who was in the battle near Ringgold, saying that William Mitchell, a lieutenant, was killed. Willis was wounded, flesh wound; and that Eugene Banks, his lieutenant, has escaped unhurt. I have sent son Kelly after Willis and at this writing have not heard from him. Willis was taken from the field. His telegram is dated at Adairsville. “This battle has lasted several days and been most fatal. Our killed and wounded estimated at 10 to 12,000. The enemy’s loss thought to be larger than ours. We certainly made a victory. The enemy commanded by Rosecrans. Bragg commanded our army. Many have fallen from Columbus and the neighborhood. The fighting still continues about Charleston. Nothing decisive from there yet, she still holds out and thus far has escaped the enemy. Elbert [another son] is still in Mississippi. “Cotton not so high as it has been 35 to 45c.” Source: John Banks, Autobiography of John Banks, 1797 - 1870 (Austell, Ga.: privately printed by Elberta Leonard, 1936), p. 29.
