Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A rare Confederate officer's Battle of Bull Run letter, 4pp. 4to., written by 1st Lt. Charles E. Buck, [DOW, Mar. 1, 1863], Co. K, 12th Mississippi Infantry, Manassas Junction, Va., July 24, 1861, to his sister, in small part: "…we reached here on Tuesday morning on the rain being just a week in the trip from Union City…a more fatiguing…I have never endured…traveling for miles suffering intense thirst…the roadside everywhere was lined with groups women & children who seemed to wish us God speed…men were very scarce indeed…they were beseeching God to grant life & victory to those sons who were fighting for their liberties…started on Sunday morning for this place…it was reported that Gen. Patterson was taken prisoner…Sec. of War Cameron was killed [actually his son who was in command of the 79th New York] & Gen. McDowell wounded…the battle commenced upon Sunday morning July 21…the attack was made at several different places…their main attack was seven miles from here. Gen. Beauregard not having…all of his troops here, but having…large bodies of them between here & the country occupied by the enemy. The point attacked was quickly reinforced. Our troops fell back a mile or two to wait for them…the whole battle seems not so much to have been what would be called a pitched battle…the brokenness of the country & the thick growth of pines preventing the forces from being drawn up in line of battle-nearly…all the points of attack witnessing a victory for us. Our loss has not yet been authoritatively stated, but it is…about three hundred killed & forty or fifty taken prisoners. The enemy had more killed, perhaps even more than five hundred and…a thousand prisoners…& forty odd of their finest rifle cannon. We had about fifteen thousand men engaged in the fight. The enemy had ten thousand regulars & regiments from many of the Northern states. The enemy being repulsed commenced retreating…which soon ended in a rout. The cavalry pursuing them as far [as] Centreville…nine miles from here…they have dropped 10,000 stand of arms between here & Fairfax Court House…they have gone entirely to Alexandria…they were stopped there with difficulty that [because] the bridge there was burnt & there…the enemy have fortified themselves at Alexandria…a good many of our troops are now marching towards Alexandria, but they may be stopped before getting there…I hope our Reg. will leave this place in a few days for water is scarce…I went out about seven miles…the sights I…". Unsigned partial letter, but complete in its battle content. The original transmittal cover, addressed: "Mrs.J. W. Watson, Port Gibson, Claibourne County, Mississippi", is included. Both 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).
Click above for larger image.