2021-10 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021
A great battle of Carnifax Ferry letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by junior officer in the Army of Kanawha, Samuel T. Dillard whose regiment was most likely the 36th Virginia, "Camp Defiance", Oct. 9, 1861, to his brother Stephen, reading, in part: "-Pa says he saw an account of the Battle at Gauley & it was quite partial…our loss was greater than any other-Company I suppose. Afterwards [we] retreated back across Gauley to Camp Dogwood where we remain several days. Procured a sheet of foolscap & rote an account as near as I could describing our positions - we then retreated to the Big Sewell-from there to Meadow Bluff where I expected to get all the necessities of camp, but our camp soon became excited - our men were put to work on Breastworks, myself & Brother being the only officer then. There we of course remained expecting an attack every hour. Graves was at home & Wood had gone to Lewisburg-was-return [on] Sunday, but there feigned sickness & did not reach camp until about the 7th of the present month-he became satisfied we were not to fight at Camp Defiance. It was quite funny to see how he acted at Camp Gauley when the bullets commenced whistling about us. He soon got in the hospital-I saw no more of him until we were nearly at the river which was about 10 o'clock at night. When I see you I will give an account of the battle & of [the] men [&] the battery-all in my possession was burnt. I hated to see Papa's letter in the fire, worst of all-the one I received at Camp Gauley. I do not intend to let the Lincolnites get my letters. I have made arrangements with Wm. A. Coleman & others to take care of my money if I should fall in battle. Some of them would likely survive in any battle-Samuel T. Dillard. PS we shall leave here in a few days. I know not where." Minor soiling, else VG.
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