2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
War-date letter, 9pp. 8vo., written, on official "U. S. Christian Commission" stationery, by U.S. Christian Commission Agent William Van Wagenen, "White House, Va. June 7, 1864," to his sister, reads, in part: "…at Port Royal…I walked around the almost deserted place & attended service at a little Episcopal Church…at 7 we left in a transport for White House on the Pamunkey River…we saw Gen. McClellan's Peninsular route…at White House we established our station…in the evening I with a number of others crossed the river with food etc. for the trains of wounded that were passing…next day I was busy with attending to the wounded… there were 1500 in ambulances many of whom had not had their wounds dressed, washed their faces, talked to the dying and etc. I helped dig a grave and carried the soldier wrapped him in his blanket and buried him decently…preparations were made to remove the station to the opposite side of the river…I was left in charge until…I retained transports…& went with the stores to the new station. The agent whom I had known at Fredericksburg offered me any position desired & I was relieved of my post as Post Master…I had sent off about 4000 letters…was assigned with two others to act as commissary & to take charge of stores…I found it hard work to keep…by Saturday night I was used up & at my own request was relieved…& sent further to the front in charge of store with an ambulance train…we went the road that Kilpatrick took on his raid to Richmond & encamped at the extreme right of the line of the army…during the evening we heard the attack which was made only two miles off. The musket fringe was very plain. We could hear the yells & see the flashes of the guns…looked around, saw the entrenchments & rifle pits…left for division hospital…we found the wounded coming in & distributed our stores. The ambulances & wagon train were loaded up & we were obliged to leave with them & took care of them…Tuesday morning I returned to my commissary work …the agent requested me to take the post of Captain of the 5th Corp. Hospital. I entered on the work on Wednesday morning and have been there since...I have to oversee ten delegates [of the U.S. Christian Commission] in as many wards and have had from 900 to 1000 wounded and sick under my care…the men under me are ministers & not very young men. I find it pretty hard to get them to work my way…I keep things going quite satisfactorily. They move the men to Washington as fast as they can &…have taken 500 of my Corps away…the base will…be changed to the James River…the cannonading has not being so heavy today as usual & have now become so used to it as not to notice it at all…Will." Minor spotting, else VG.
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