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, 3 1/4pp. 8vo., written by Hospital Steward David F. Kagey (1834-1923), 25th Virginia Infantry, "Camp on Bowl's Farm 1 mile south of Winchester, Sept. 5, 1864," reading, in part: "We came here…from near Bunker Hill. We had been out on a reconnoitering expedition all day Saturday…also been out on Friday looking around…for the Yankee's…it commenced to rain…we had a rough time. Dr. Miller & I laid down in an old field…& covered with our blankets & gum clothes we kept dry & slept…our division has not been engaged since the first of last week. Anderson's Corps had a fight with the enemy the Berryville road 4 miles from Winchester last Saturday evening & drove them back. Their cavalry made an effort to flank us & get within a few miles of Newtown…[Fitz Hugh] Lee's cavalry occupied our camp…Lee was ordered to Fisher's Hill where they now are…yesterday morning…two divisions of Yankee cavalry…passed around Lee's cavalry & gone up the Valley. I tell you some of us felt "Blue"…all the rest of Gordon's division except…Terry's…are below Winchester. Rode's, Ramseur's & Breckinridge's old division did not come up Saturday…all the other Brig. of Gordon's division went below town yesterday. This brigade is left here to picket & watch the Millwoood & Front Royal Roads. York's Brig. is picketing the Pewtown [?] road & the other two brigades are on the Berryville road. Anderson's Corps is over about Berryville. Rides & Ramseur are on the Martinsburg Road & the cavalry are on the right & left flanks. The Yankee cavalry "kinder" whipped Johnson's cavalry again on Saturday near Bunker Hill & captured some of our wagons. Most of the cavalry except Lee's is not much force. Maj. Gilmore is reported mortally wounded. Gen. [John B.] Gordon is in command of this post [with] Hd Qrs. at Winchester…I entertain some fear the Yankee's may slip by us & get up the Valley as they seem anxious to destroy the mills & crops…thinking it the only way to drive the army out of here…Jubal will watch them closely. Be prepared, however, for a Yankee raid at any time. They have much more efficient cavalry than we have in the Valley…I have sent up my petition…to go to Richmond from Nov. till March. It was approved by Dr. Miller & the commander of the 25th Regt., Capt. Figget, also by Dr. Henkel & Gen. Terry…when it arrived at Gordon's through the influence…of someone on his staff [it was] disapproved…it will have to go to Gen. Early & Dr. McGuire…from thence to the surge. general at Richmond. It may come out all right…if Dr. Stevens' had been present…it would not have met with his disapproval…I consider him a warm friend…Dr. Miller went to town this morning…I have not been in town yet. May go tonight with Caspar [C. Henkel.] He begged me to go yesterday…but [I] preferred not to make my visits too frequent…Dave…". Minor soiling, else VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.