2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
War-date Union officer's battle letter, 6pp. folio, written by 1st Lt. Harrison Hume, 11th Maine Vols., "on the James River," [Va.], July 5, 1862, to his brother, reading, in small part: "…it was really welcomed. Our communications had been cut off…it was a relief to hear from the outside…we are near City Point…we are on the James River under cover of the Gunboats…I…having been starved the last week…I spoke of the heavy firing…the result…was that the enemy flanked us…we were whip…the enemy threw about eighty thousand men on the right & almost destroyed Porter's divisions…there were more than three thousand stragglers…next morning…party of guerrillas…went around the army…Porter being defeated [was] flanked by the rebels. Thus began the great strategic movement as McClellan had chosen to call it…[but] as a forced retreat…I don't wish to see manta more such movements…the army can [not] stand many such. The position we occupied…was in the rear, guarding the Railroad & Bottoms Bridge…we expected the enemy in our rear & had to throw our whole force on to the bridges…the enemy made his appearance…in our rear…we destroyed the bridges…burning it down & tearing it down…last Sunday night [June 29, battle of Savage Station]…we abandoned our position…in retreating, McClellan was obliged to leaven…three thousand sick & wounded in the hands of the enemy & to destroy immense quantities of provisions…an engine & a long train of cars. The cars nearest the engine was…full of ammunition & barrels of powder, shells…the rear cars were set on fire…they started her up [the engine], under full steam & let her run into the Chickahominy where we had destroyed [railroad] bridge. She came running down, just as we were leaving, all on fire, plunged off the bridge & in a second. We had one of the most terrible explosions I ever heard. It was grand. It shook the earth for miles. We moved off & marched all night. The next morning [June 30th] Gen. McClellan complimented the brigade on the manner in which they had performed the important duty…he ordered us to continue the same business of covering the retreat…we moved off…expecting the enemy would soon be down on us…we knew that they could not cross…White Oak swamp without great difficulty…we were quietly resting when all at once an awful volley of artillery broke upon our ears…riderless horses, mules…came rushing up over the hill, pell mell. Our artillery replied…the cannonading was terrific…the 11th…moved into position…had the enemy made his appearance we should have had it hot & heavy…we made a breast work of rails…the shot & shell went crashing over us, cutting the trees…one shot struck three feet from me…one struck right amongst our men…it was a rough time. Gen. Caldwell's brigade…had some killed & wounded. I lay & watched the shell(s) fall among them…next day [July 1, battle of Malvern Hill]…they had a lively fight…more than a hundred guns…whipped them capturing one whole regiment, the 17 Va. The first volley…stove Mott's Battery all to pieces killed 8 men. The rebels had their guns all in position & our folks did not know it…the next morning at 3 a. m. we went out to cover the retreat…until everything had passed on to the river under cover of the Gunboats…the enemy did not make his appearance. I was, that day, aid to Gen. Naglee…he directed the movements of the retreat…I am sick of it…the troops were much disorganized & could have been easily destroyed. There were thousands of stragglers…something must be done or the country will be ruined. There are a plenty of gun boats here, among them the Monitor…our regiment is…worn down with exhaustion & fatigue…the 4th (July) McClellan, rode around to look at the different regiments & all round you could hear cheers as the…regiments…receive[d] him. When he came to our Brigade the men stood in gloomy silence…he raised his cap but not a cheer did he get…H. Hume…". Light toning, else VG.
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