Great Battle of Boydton Plank Road Letter.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017

War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 9 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., "Headquarters Second Army Corps near Petersburg, Va., Nov. 5th, 1864", concerning Gen. Hancock's seventeen thousand man command movement to flank Lee's army along the South Side Railroad at Boydton Plank Road in late October 1864, in small part: "…the delay in answering has been unavoidable and today I hardly feel capable…I will try and give you a few facts in relation to our recent move to the left. The object of the move…was to get possession of the South Side R. R…no wagons were to be taken except those that were required to carry ammunition. On epic mule was allowed to two officers. No wall tents were taken by the staff…troops carried eight days rations…all wagons, extra cassions etc of the 2nd, 5th and 9th Corps…were sent to City Point…most of their drivers were to be put in the breast works for its defense…on the morning of the 26th…the expedition was to consist of six divisions of infantry and one of cavalry…under command of General Hancock…we (the P[rovost] G[uard]) packed on blanket and everything which we did not wish to carry…bivouacked near the Yellow House on the Wedlon R. R. The troops commenced moving out…on Thursday the 27th. We followed them…we improved to load our pieces…about four o'clock P. M…we came up to the line of battle. We moved by fits and starts…we drove them quite steadily…captured a few prisoners, among them a major, inspector general of a cavalry corps…when we were within about a mile and a half of the line of battle Gen. Grant & Meade with their staffs passed us en route to the front. The cannonading was…quite lively…the road by which we were advancing was very narrow…we turned off…where the ambulances were parked…I was roused by one of the boys and to my surprise saw…the guard had taken arms and were going to the rear…at a double quick…the musketry…had increased to such an extent as to make it very plain that a desperate fight was in progress. The rebels…assaulted our lines in heavy force and were slowly forcing us back…the shells…were whistling round…a brigade…was formed and ordered to charge which they did with a yell and…checked the further progress of the Johnnies…we deployed to prevent contrabands from going back from the battle. The ambulances were moving back…occasionally a man with a gun attempted to perform the same operation. Our line (P. G.) was formed in an open field, but the line of battle was hidden by the forrest…the musketry…gradually slackened and suddenly a cheer and the cracking of rifles told that the enemy had attacked us in the rear…very little attention was paid to it…an officer remarked…that he feared we should have work…soon…the din of battle gradually increased…a battery on our left flank was causing us…some annoyance…we were nearly surrounded. The Rebs opened a battery in our rear…the first shot…caused us to bow…tow or three hundred prisoners were brought in and we took charge of them and marched from one part of the field to the other subject to the fire from three sides…Major Bull ordered the capt. to form a corral in the centre of the field. He did so…it became too hot and we moved toward the old front and all lay down in the grass…one of the prisoners was killed and two wounded by a shell. One of the guard was also badly wounded…named T. E. Longstreet…the musketry and shelling continued in our rear till after dark…we were ordered to move out on the same roady which we came…we…proceeded direct to Yellow House…and plodded on through the darkness and mud with the rain pouring steadily down…the guard reached Yellow House with their prisoners about two o'clock a. m…a guard came up from City Point and relieved us of our prisoners…Sunday Oct. 6th 1864 an attack was made on our line from the Appomattox to the extreme left…41 prisoners were…captured…I heard cannonading last night, but I was only half awake and paid no attention to it…you ask if I don't think my picture would look better if taken with a dress coat…that is an article that I have not worn since…Centreville…as I do not like them. Very few soldiers…wear them…George S. Youngs…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Minor spotting, else VG

Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).