Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
Union soldier’s letter written by (James) Harry (Platt, Jr.), who enlisted 8/30/1861 as a Captain into "B" Co. VT 4th Infantry and was POW 5/30/1864, Exchanged 11/3/1864 Oakley Island, GA. The four page letter is datelined Camp near Yorktown, Va., April 20th, 1862. he writes in part, “The rebels displayed a “flag of truce” from their works, and proposed a secession of hostilities for two hours to enable them to bury their dead. This was agreed to on our part on condition that they send us the dead of our regiments left on their side of the Creek on Wednesday. The preliminaries being arranged, the sad work commenced and a party of their men brought our dead one by one, half way across the dam at which point they were received by our men. The spectacle though melancholy was deeply interesting. The rebel troops were in full sight, all portions of their works being covered with them, & a large body of their horseman were stationed along the bank of the creek. Our men were also out in large numbers on the dam midway between the two shores were two rebel officers & two of Genl. Smith’s staff amiably conversing. To have seen them meet, one would have thought it a meeting of dear friends long separated so cordial, were the handshakes & so mutual the smiles. A large party of the rebels were engaged sorting the dead conveying their own into their fort and ours to the party waiting to receive them. Thirty three bodies were conveyed to our side & seemingly three were carried into the fort to one brought over. While engaged in the work the two parties conversed together freely one of the rebels said he was from Burlington, Vt. & his name he gave as Lyon. They expressed their determination to make every farm in Virginia a graveyard & every house a hospital before they would yield & other remarks of the “dying in the last ditch” style. At the expiration of the two hours, forty minutes was agreed upon for both parties to place themselves in safety and at the end of the forty minutes the white flag was hauled down & we were enemies once more. ... It was a sad sight to me to see my old friends and comrades from Co. F & some of the men in Co. K to whom last summer I taught the rudiments of military discipline, brought in lifeless & disfigured by wounds and lying so long on the field uncared for but such is war gallantly they met the fate of true soldiers & fell bravely fighting for the noble cause we are defending.
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