Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Confederate Stonewall Brigade letter, 3pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. John W. Middleton (1835-1907), Co. H, 27th Virginia Infantry, (WIA & POW Pickett's Charge, Gettysburg 7/3/63), Camp near Strasburg, Mar. 14, 1862, in part: "…we have been moving about all this week. We left our camp at Winchester Tuesday and went below town…where we stayed till night when we fell back to Newtown. The next day we came here. We keep the wagons packed and harnesses on the horses ready to march any moment. The enemy marched into Winchester on Wednesday…a great many of our men stayed in town and were taken prisoners…most of them lived there. It must be hard to leave town under such circumstances. I stopped in town for a few moments…it was heartbreaking to see the ladies weeping. Mothers parting with sons, sisters with brother, wives with husbands and friends with friends. They all seemed in despair with no hope of seeing each other again. Oh, isn't this a cruel war…friendship's golden chain is severed and one is sent adrift as a refugee. All that is worth living for is gone. The enemy followed us as far as Newtown then fell back…their pickets are now in Newtown, their main body a short distance behind them. Col. [Turner] Ashby has been fighting them all day. his main body of cavalry has fallen back to Middletown…we are ordered to cook one day's rations…we will move from here in a short time. Everything is being moved from Strasburg to Mount Jackson…we will fall back as far as Staunton and then towards Richmond. If we give up this Valley I would not give much for the rest of the state…we are in a hard place, calling out all men in the state, then leave it to be overrun by the enemy. Virginia has furnished nearly all the wagons, horses man and provisions for the whole army and [is] now calling out all the men…we are imposed upon. I was in hopes that I would get home when my term expired, but this call will prevent that. When we were mustered into service we were assured that we could go home at the end of our term. I have complied with my part of the contract while they forfeit theirs. This is truly a military despotism while all the despots are exempt from military duty…I have heard a great many say that they would not get out of the way of the enemy and sure enough some of them stayed in Winchester…about one hundred of our men stayed. There is about some 30,000 infantry, 70 pieces of rifled cannon and 2,000 cavalry. I seen a man from Winchester who says they are the finest set of men he ever saw…and they are fixed to follow us so you may hear of us being up that way in a week or two…I am very tired of so much excitement...J. W. Middleton…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Both overall VG
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