2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A great war-date Union officer's, 5pp. 8vo., letter written in pencil by Lt. William H. Broughton, Co. D, 16th Maine Vols., "Bivouac of the 16 Maine, in line of Battle, 12 or 13 miles from Richmond, May 31, 1864" to his father giving a detail account of honoring their commander and of the celebration that followed, reading, in part: "…since the campaign commenced…I have not give you any of the proceedings. I will…give you a hasty description of the part taken by our regiment since we left Mitchell's Station. On the night of May 3rd we broke camp and marched that night and all day [on] the 4th, crossing the Rapidan River at Germania Ford…the next morning we fell in and marched about one mile…when heavy musketry was heard in front…our Brigade advanced in column of battalion but did not get engaged…on the morning of the 6th our Brigade moved back one mile. The battle raged with great fury all day; nothing but the cracking of musketry could be heard…[on] the 7th we lay still until near sunset, when we marched towards Spotsylvania C.H. We were on the road all night…[on the 8th] our Division formed in line of battle and charged intending…to go through to the Court House. Before we charged we had to advance through a thick piece of woods to an opening…as we appeared the enemy opened on us with two pieces of artillery. At the same time the order to charge was given and away we went running and yelling. We charged three separate times. The last time we ran against a snag, were flanked and driven back…we charged a mile and a half. Many of the men were sun struck. It was on this charge that Gen. [John C.] Robinson was wounded [in the leg necessitating amputation]…[on] the 9th everything was quiet…with the exception of [an] occasional shot by the skirmishers. Gen. Sedgwick was killed on the left of our regiment…[on the 10th] our regiment was in [it] again, losing heavily. From Tuesday the 10th to Saturday the 21st the Army lay in the vicinity of Spotsylvania. On the 21st we moved to Guinea Station…[on] the 23rd our Corps crossed the North Anna River…we had hardly got into position before the enemy came down on us, intending to drive us into the river and get our wagon train, but were handsomely repulsed…we lay here until the night of the 27th when we quietly packed up, crossed the North Anna River and marched it southeasterly…bivouacking 10 miles north of Hanover…on the 29th we crossed the Pamunkey River and formed a line of battle…we are now…12 or 14 miles from Richmond. Yesterday…the Rebs attacked us, but were roughly handled. Since the 6th day of May our regiment have thrown up…16 breastworks…the National flag which was presented by the Merchant's Exchange has been used roughly. The staff having been struck no less than three times by musket balls, one…cut the staff off just below the plate. The bullet holes in the color[s]…are too numerous to count. Our losses thus far has been as follows: Killed Off 0 E.M. 11 Wounded Off 8 E.M. 125 Missing off 2 E.M. 25 Total 171 Besides the above, 2 officers and 14 men have been recaptured who were taken the 8th, making a total of 187…".Ten days after his sixteenth birthday, Broughton enlisted in 1862 as a private in the 16th Maine. He became one of the army's youngest officers by being promoted to lieutenant by the end of the year. After the battle of Gettysburg, he commanded a company due to the heavy losses his regiment sustained during the battle. He served faithfully throughout the remainder of the war and was captured at the battle of Weldon Railroad, Va. on Aug. 13, 1864, and was paroled after being held a short time at Libby prison. He was discharged on June 5, 1865. Light soiling, else very good.
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