A South Carolina Officer On Fredericksburg and General Burnside.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019

A good South Carolina officer's Fredericksburg campaign letter, written by Capt. Mars C. Taggart, Co. G, 14th South Carolina Infantry, Summit Point, [Va.], Dec. 10, 1862", to his cousin, in part: "…since we commenced our march from beyond Winchester…I have not been able to write…from Winchester to New Market my leg gave me fits& at the latter place I was attacked with a…case of jaundice the worst…I have ever seen. As usual on such marches there was no way of transportation…for the sick & I had to foot it nearly the whole distance of one hundred and thirty miles…he treated me with brotherly kindness-often walking six or eight mile…& allowing me to ride his horse…we arrived at our old camp on Manassas hills occupying the ground that the 13th Regt. did last spring. Genl. Gregg's head quarters are the same. I did not stop there…I could not have marched two miles further…we have drawn a very good supply of…overcoats & blankets…our supply of provisions is running short. The men having only half rations for a week which causes an incalculable amount of grumbling and threats of desertion…Lewis Ridge is the only one sent to the hospital lately. His father is discharged…our army occupied Fredericksburg & are encamped back of that place. Our division being the rear most one. Jackson & Ewell are at Port Royal Ferry. Jackson's headquarters being at Guiney's Station. Burnside is throwing up breastworks on the opposite side of the Rappahannock [river] in shelling distance of the town & Lee is busily engaged in the same business…when both sides get to digging…there is but small prospect of a fight. Burnside cant cross & Lee does not wish to. I don't apprehend a fight at this point and if B. is foolhardy enough to travel the road to Richmond it will be by Port Royal, that is if Jackson will agree to the program…Mars." The integral transmittal postal leaf, addressed, in full: "Lt. E[dmund] Cowan, [Co. G, 14th South Carolina], Widemans, So. Ca." remains attached with "Due 10", Richmond, Va. postal marks. Minor paper loss at the folds, else VG

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