2020-09 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2020
War-date Confederate medical staff non-commissioned officer's letter, 6pp. 8vo., written, on First National Flag patriotic stationery, by Hospital Steward David F. Kagey (1834-1923), 25th Virginia Infantry, "Camp near Spotsylvania Battlefield 1/2 miles from Spotsylvania Court House, Va., Wednesday evening, May 18, 1864," reading, in small part: "This is the 14th day of the 'Great Battle'. Gen. Lee still holds his position & has repulsed the enemy at every point time and again with great slaughter to them. Our loss in killed and wounded is considerable…but by no means large as our army was fighting behind breastworks…we have suffered severely in Johnson's Division from 1500 to 2000 of the division have been captured. The first & second days fight it was very much thinned…the position it occupied…was the most exposed & was assaulted more vigorously by the enemy…[May 12, at the battle of Spotsylvania] it was also so situated that the Yankee's had a cross fire upon it. The men fought bravely, but the enemy massed their forces ten columns deep. They were force to give…when they were reinforced & the enemy were…driven out of our breastworks…but it was too late to save many of Johnson's division from capture. Johnson & Stuart & many other officers & men were compelled to surrender. They got nearly all that remained…of the 25th Va. Col. Higginbotham was killed [shot through the heart] the evening before so many of Johnson's Division were captured. An effort was made to send his body to Staunton but the Yankee cavalry were in our rear…he was buried at 'Old' Spotsylvania Court House…we are getting off the wounded very rapidly. In a day or two most of our wounded will be gotten to the rear. Johnson's Division has about 1500 men left not hurt…Gen. Lee has said after this battle…it shall be sent back…to recruit…this morning there was the heaviest cannonading since the commencement of the fight, also heavy musketry. The Yankee's made another effort to break through our lines but were handsomely repulsed with great loss. They seem to have much trouble to get their men up any more…the Yankee's make their men drunk & then force them forward…John Stirvault was wound through the thigh…I got there just before he was started in an ambulance for Louisa Court House…he told me he had written home…one of my old classmates is hospital steward in that Batt…his wound will…be a very sore one…our regiment lost about 40 killed & wounded…we…feel confident the Yankees cant whip this army...stand no chance to get to Richmond…Grant has predicted. Many get there as prisoners. Our cook was captured in the 1st days fight. We miss him…if I just had Marcus now, I would be made up…we were surprised yesterday evening to hear a battle had taken place near New Market between Breckinridge & Sigel, but highly gratified to know that the 'Dutch' general was whipped. Gen. Lee had the telegram read out to this army…I hope the Yankees did not tarry long among you…cheering news come to us from every quarter of Confederate success. This has been a long siege…Yankee shells sometimes come near us…the fight was immediately in our front. Firing ceased about 11 O. C.. It has been pretty quiet since. The enemy are…moving to our right. The ball may open elsewhere in the morning…they are getting tired as well as we are…we may have to follow them down on the Peninsula as they…try to unite the army at Richmond with Grant's…Gen. Lee, if spared, will attend to them all & see they don't get there except such as he chooses…a permit to visit Libby or Belle Isle. I saw Gen. Lee riding by this evening…he wanted to head a brigade in the fight the other day but they wound not let him. Told him to must go back or they would…not go. He went to the rear. We have lost a number of General officers. It would be a severe stroke to lose him…this is a poor country. Very wilderness like in all respects…I wish you would put a black cloth collar and black cuffs on my Grey coat at home…some narrow black velvet…would do. I would like you to stripe my pants…Johnson's division has been formed into t brigade at present…some of the surgeon's & Hosp. Stewards of the division have been transferred to other commands…I preferred to remain with Dr. Miller…I'll take my chances with what is left of the 25th Va…D. F. K." Near fine.
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