Showing results by author "Samuel H. M. Byers" in All Categories

Samuel H. M. Byers was an American poet, diplomat, and soldier in the Civil War. "In war some persons seek adventures; others have them in spite of themselves. It happened that the writer of this book belonged to a regiment that seemed to be always in the midst of great experiences. It was, in fact, one of the few regiments that absolutely fought themselves out of existence. It was mustered in a thousand strong; it lost seven hundred and seventy-seven men by death, wounds, and disease. The fragment that was left over was transferred to a cavalry command. When the writer finally escaped from ...

Samuel H. M. Byers was not just an American poet and diplomat; he was also a soldier who lived through the tumult of the Civil War. He reflects, In war, some seek adventure; others stumble into it. Byers served in a regiment that faced extraordinary challenges and ultimately fought itself into oblivion. Originally mustered with a thousand men, the regiment suffered staggering losses—seven hundred and seventy-seven were lost to death, wounds, and disease. The remnants of the unit were absorbed into a cavalry command. Byers, after enduring months of imprisonment and countless thrilling ...