2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
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The letters range 1861-62, are written to his wife Rachel, each letter has transcription. Included is research of the 39th PA Vols of which McKean was a band leader. Here are dozens of excerpts detailing McKean’s Army life. Datelined: Camp Tennallytown, D.C., SEPT. 13, 1861, in part, "Of the military movements, strength and disposition of troops about here, you know more than we do. My impression is the Confederates will not attack us. .. I almost tremble for Gen. McClellan. The confidence in him is unbounded, but a misfortune may tumble him down in a day as Gen. McDowell was …." Datelined: Camp Tennallytown, D.C., SEPT 15TH, 1861, in part" A telegraph wire conveys to those below whatever information is gained from the view. The balloon stays up about fifteen minutes at a time. .. It is universal opinion here that Washington is now impregnable …" Datelined: Camp Tennally DC., SEPT 26, 1861, in part "It is geberally bekieved about here that there are 200,000 men within two march of any point of our Washington defenses. I think the guess is very near the truth. From our high position, we can see over a large extent of the country, and as far as the eye can reach. It is white with tents, entreanched fortification, show themselves every here and there. Heavy firing that at times startles us that the idea that a big fight is going on somewhere …" Datelined: Camp Tennally D.C., SEPT. 29, 1861, in part " Yesterday Gen. McClellan made a powerfull movement forward, the Rebels retiring before him without any attempt at resistance … Gen. McClellan is moving forward with what I believe is an overwhelming force .. The army has unbounded confidence in him, and from a short view, I had of him, I believe that confidence is not misplaced. …" Datelined: Camp Piermont, Fairfax County Va., OCT. 21st 1861, in part “I think our movement on Saturday was to divert the attention of General Lee so that Bank’s division might cross Potomac above. I do not know how far it was successful. I think the rebels are positive in their purpose not to fight us except at or near Manassas. I still think Gen. McClellan will not hazard a fight with their batteries. ...” Camp Pierpont, Oct 26 1861 , in part” “However, Banks cross and then recrossed after his advance guard got well whipped. It is mortifying to the Pennsylvania Reserve to know that had we gone on in the direction of Leesburg from which we were distant only fifteen miles, we might have had a hand in and changed the result of the battle in which Col. Baker was killed. The battle was brought on contrary to orders and the consequence was a defeat, which I believe has deranged the whole plan of McClellan’s campaign, ...” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Nov 2 1861, in part “So far as we know the rebels make no blunders. Our movements appear to be a succession of blunders. The Ball’s Bluff affair I consider hardly inferior in the effect to Bull Run. It has terribly taken the confidence of the men in their officers, because the movement was so palpably unmilitary, that anyone can see its folly....” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Nov. 14, 1861 , in part “As to the rumors you hear of the Penna Reserve being sent on a naval expedition, I wish you would let them go in at one ear and out at the other, if you must listen to them. You may take my word for it, that McCall’s division is not going upon any naval expedition- at least not until the enemy shall have withdrawn from Virginia. ...” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Nov 18th, 1861, in part “The rebels are growing bolder in this neighborhood. Day before yesterday, a detachment of a News York regiment, with some weapons, went out a couple of miles beyond our picket lines to gather in a field of corn. On reaching the field they stacked their arms and fell to husking the corn. While at work a body of rebel cavalry got between them and their stacked arms, and captured the whole squad-forty in number. ...” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Nov 24th 1861, in part “ McClellan can occupy the country between the Potomac and Centreville without a battle, and he can take Manassas by regular approaches as Sebastopol was taken. The whole fortune of war might be there determined, as it was in the Crimea. It would be an artillery fight almost entirely, with little loss of life on either side. We can concentrate troops enough before Centreville to overawe resistance there, and then spend the winter reducing Manassas. ... McClellan will not fight a great battle if he can help it...” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Nov 29th 1861, in part “They had a fight, lost one man mortally wounded and killed three rebels and captured thirteen. I saw the prisoners as they brought them in the next morning. They were a hard looking badly dressed, villainous set of fellows, one of them was wounded, and he has since died. ...” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Dec. 9th 1861, in part “Our regiment is on the ground where Col. Bayard’s 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry had a skirmish a short time ago with some rebels in ambush. The only evidence left on the ground was Col. Bayard’s horse. The poor brute was shot through just above and in front of the Colonel’s leg. Two of the ribs were shot off, and another ball had broken his leg. The fence was broken down where the cavalry charged into the thicket whence the firing proceeded and the limbs of the cedar bushes were cut off by the balls of either party. A large brick house near the place was visited by our boys, and they made sad work of it in a very short time. I went into it and saw them smashing windows doors etc. The owner of the house was supposed to be the one who sent word to the rebels of Col Bayard’s advance and assisted them in preparing the ambush. ... “ Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Dec. 19th 1861, in part “I am writing this in our new quarters – That is in our new Cabin. ... A little black boy will carry our water and cut our wood, so that the hardest part of the job will be off our hands. Our shanty has a water proof roof of clapboards, nailed on....” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Dec. 22nd 1861, in part “On our side were six regiments, numbering about 4,000 men. On theirs were four regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery of six pieces of artillery. ... If I had any curiosity to see a battle it has been entirely satisfied there is no fun about it ... The sight of so much blood sickened me, as I expected it would, but I worked away, they abandoned all their dead, and a part of their wounded. We carried in all their wounded, and our surgeons attended them. ... “ Datelined: Camp Pierpont, Dec. 27th 1861, in part “So far I have not seen a newspaper account that was anything like correct. ... I have seen the account of the affair published in the Richmond inquirer. It is the most barefaced tissue of lies from end to end, except in the fact that is says the affair ended disastrously for them. ...” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, January 7th, 1862, in part “The divisions of Gen. Smith and Gen. Porter, the next two divisions south of us, are off today, on a reconnaissance in force. The first brigade of our division has also been under arms all day, ready to move to the point of danger ...” Datelined: Camp Pierpont, January 19th, 1862, in part “Burnside must hold his own now. If he gets behind the Rebel lines at Norfolk or any where else, he may compel the enemy to attack him or if he is too strongly posted for that, he may compel them to attack us, as a last desperate chance. The latter I think the more probable. They dare not abandon their lines, no matter what danger threatens their rear. ...” Datelined: Washington, May 11th 1862, in part “I think the active part of the war is nearly over. I do not look for much more hard fighting. There may be one or two severe battles, and then only skirmishing after that. Half the troops will be disbanded by August, I think, and the rest gradually. ...” Datelined: Washington, May 17th 1862, in part “There are two or three members of Congress here, and a number of Clerks and other attaches of the Government. There are now three soldiers here who have been in Richmond as Prisoners since the Battle of Bull Run. They tell hard stories of their jailors. The city is full of “contrabands.” They come in droves. Tonight I saw a gang of about twenty women and children – “Contrabands” marching down the avenue towards the negro rendezvous. I can’t think what the government will do with them. ...”
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