John McCalla Letter to his Parents January 21, 1813

              French Town, River Raison January 21, 1813 Dearest Parents. (Sideways writing) The French ladies are pretty and sociable. Return thanks, with me for my life preserved. I have at length been in an action on the 18th, the place where I longed to be. I have seen the enemy, and I have seen him defeated. I have seen my fellow soldiers extended lifeless bloody corpses on the ground, and many others groaning in agony from dangerous wounds. I have heard balls whistling as thick as the pattering hail, around me and yet not touched even in my cloathes. I wondered that I should escape and expected every ball would be for me. It was not very often that I have time for thought, as I acted as Adjutant, and was almost continually in a gallop from one column to another. I can only say of the engagement, that our