2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
The following six (6) lots are from the personal military archive of WILLIAM WATTS HART DAVIS (1820-1910) Union brevet brigadier general who received his honorary rank because of his participation in operations against Charleston, South Carolina in 1863. Included in this group are several letters from Charleston. A Harvard graduate, he volunteered to fight in the Mexican War and at the opening of the Civil War became colonel of the 104th Penn. Vols. War-date colonel's letter written by future Brevet Brigadier General William Watts Hart Davis (1820-1910), as colonel 104th Penn. Vols., 3pp. 4to., "Hd. Qrs. 104 Penna. Vols., Yorktown, 4 corners, [Va.], Apr. 29, 1862", issued to a. a. a. General Capt. George W. Johnson, reading, in part: "…I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the 10th regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers during the reconnaissance in force on the afternoon of the 29th instant. My regiment was assigned the right of the line and as such as drawn up in line of battle on the Lee's Mill road in the wood fronting the enemy's works…about a thousand yards distant. The skirmishing companies A and B were then thrown forward and advanced across an open field to a wood in which they deployed as skirmishers. My regiment was then advanced to the edge of the wood…align a worn fence some three…hundred yards nearer the enemy's position. Company E was…detached to support the two skirmishing companies already thrown forward…my regiment retained its position near the fence…my left skirmishing company B when deployed in the wood advanced to within about one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's works…drawn up in battle array…a company of the 11th Maine Vols., a little in advance, received a volley from the enemy which mortally wounded one man. When they retired leaving his body lying where it had fallen. Captain [James R.] Orem [WIA Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862] of Company B of the 104th P. V. with the assistance of three men of the 11th Maine…recovered the body which he brought off the field at imminent risk. The wounded man [Pvt. Andrew C. Mace] died in a few minutes afterwards. Two shells burst in the wood…W. W. H. Davis, Col. comm'dg. 104 Pa. Vols." Near fine
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