The Battle of First Bull Run, "Oh, It Is Horrid."

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020

A rare Confederate officer's battle of First Bull Run letter, 2pp. 4to., written by 1st Lt. Abner Newton Steele, [KIA Glendale, Va., June 30, 1862], Co. G (North Port Rifles), 11th Alabama Infantry, "Manassas Junction, Va., July 23, 1861," to his wife Eleanor Caroline (Thompson) Steele (1825-1906), in part: "The battles of this place has been fought. The victory won. The enemy retreated and I am alive and in good health…the battle was fought on Sunday 21st…we arrived here the next morning…it was one of the bloodiest and severest battles that ever been fought on the continent. Our side commenced with about fourteen thousand and was reinforced to about 75 or 100 thousand in a very short time. We brought fifteen thousand with us from Winchester and would have been in the battle but the train…before us broke through the Rail Road and detained us one day. I have just returned from a portion of the Battle ground. Oh, it is horrid. I saw about one hundred Yankees laying an about four acres…they were thick as far as I could see…they were laying just as they were shot down. We have no official report of the Battle…but the most general report is from six to ten thousand Yankees killed and two to three thousand taken prisoners. On our side about three thousand killed and none taken prisoners. [What] we know of the "Warrior guards" [commanded by future CSA General Robert Rodes] and the "Chickasaw guards" [are that] both arrived just as the battle was closing. The both saw the enemy, but too latter take a hand. The Pontotoe company was in to it and George told me that Joseph Pickens [3rd Alabama Infantry, Co. K] was wounded…I will try and find him…our army is camped in about ten miles square so you see it is difficult to find friends. Old George [Winfield] Scott commanded his forces and was so badly whipped…I do not know whether he will attack us again…I have no idea what our next move will be unless Scott attacks us again…I think the fighting is over for a while. Tell W. A. Cook [that] the Regt. his son [15th Alabama Infantry, Co. G] was in was cut to pieces but his son escaped and is alive…we are having a tight time of it now as we left our tents & baggage at Winchester sixty miles from here. Peter [Sgt. Peter K. Thomson, his nephew], Hays-Henson-Tom Hammer and all the boys are well. Don't be uneasy about me…A. N. Steele." Expected folds, else VG.

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