The 12th Mississippi: The Siege of Yorktown

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A great war-date Siege of Yorktown Confederate officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by 1st Lt. Charles Edward Buck, [DOW March 1, 1863], Co. K, 12th Mississippi Infantry, "Camp 1 1/4 miles from Yorktown, Virginia, April 19, 1862", to his mother, in part: "I have an opportunity…of sending a letter by private hand to Miss. as the mail facilities are so much interrupted now between here & home…we are still threatened by the enemy here, but the relative positions of the two armies have varied very little. The enemy…are strengthening themselves in their present positions. They have thrown up batteries at several points & probably are throwing up a complete & connected line of breastworks. They have according to reports received heavy reinforcements…they have made two attempts within the last few days to prove themselves of a Dam thrown up by us & cut it so as to remove a great obstruction to their advance upon a great part of our line. They were repulsed both times. This dam is a massive structure…extending from Yorktown, filled with water & thus serve as a very effective bar to the enemy's crossing our lines. They keep up…a constant firing…there is a very heavy gun about half a mile from our camp which keeps up a constant both day & night…we have moved our camp…a quarter of a mile farther from Yorktown…in case of attack…we are encamped in a densely wooded strip of land without the slough some fifty yards in front…the slough being covered with about a foot & half of water…having a very boggy bottom. We are now digging rifle pits between our camp & the slough behind which we will take shelter in case the enemy attempts to shell us out…between our rifle pits& the sough are the remains of a breastwork thrown up by the British in the Revolution of '76…the opposing forces are slowly mustering their strength for the grand battle…the enemy will require heavy artillery to attack us in our entrenchments & breastworks…commanding positions has kept them them…from beginning the engagement…their force…is much larger than ours…if we are driven back the loss will be enormous before it is done…the [CSA] Conscription Bill has…past Congress & ere this received the vote of the President…I don't suppose I will be permitted to return home…I pray to God we prove victorious…if we are conscripted we will reorganize our company by a reelection of officers both company & Regimental…Hastings [either John G. or William H. Hastings] has…taken…all of his men into camp…to organize his company-he diminishes the number of our company but there will be enough left to form our full compliment &…whenever our Brigadier General orders a reorganization we will leave no trouble in doing so. It seems rather hard that we should be formed into service without being allowed an opportunity of going home & organizing a volunteer company, but the emergency is great now & our rulers must be now knowing of its immediacy…while I regret the recent…step I cheerfully comply with the law & hope that all of our patriotic soldiers will do so too…some few turbulent spirits discuss the question of their rights being infringed & stating their determination of laying down their arms at all hazards at the expiration of their time but this feeling does not prevail…through our army & none of our Claibourne County I am pleased to state…we have suffered some…of camping out…we can sleep in the rain & be soaking wet without suffering…I hope it will not effect our health…Edward." The original transmittal cover, addressed: "Mrs. Maria Buck, Port Gibson, Claibourne County, Mississippi", is included. Both VG

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