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Future General Heath Receives Orders to ‘attack Ha

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Autograph Letter Signed, "P.E. Burke Col. Comdg." 66th Illinois Infantry, WIA & DOW at Reseca, 2p. quarto, Head Quarters Post, Camp Davies, Mississippi, August 6, 1863, addressed to Lt. Col. T.T. Heath, 5th Ohio Cavalry who rose to rank of brigadier general, the letter reads in part: "...You will move with your command with three days rations tomorrow at 10 oclock AM to attack Hams Rebel Band which are camped at the crossroads west of Old Carrolville, and do all in your power to utterly destroy his band and make an end of Ham himself. Fitzgerald and Michaels will act as guides for you - You will please see this evening that horses are assigned to them. You will spare no effort to kill every guerrilla you can possibly find, but be very careful that no individual foraging, and no plundering or straggling is permitted. You will hold each company commander personally responsible for the acts of the men of his company. Should you not find the enemy where we expect, you will be authorized to use your own discretion in proceeding further south, bearing always in mind that the total extermination of these guerrilla bans is a dissideratum most devoutly wished for..." VG.

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