2020-09 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2020
War-date Confederate medical staff non-commissioned officer's battle letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Hospital Steward David F. Kagey (1834-1923), 25th Virginia Infantry, "Camp at Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, 1864," reading, in part: "…we have had stirring times. Our division went to Martinsburg last Sunday. We left Bunker Hill…drove the Yankee cavalry back & got to M. about 10…come up near Winchester where they were pressing Gen. Ramseur & our cavalry very hard…our division as well as the entire army were soon engaged. The battle lasted most of the day & the Yankees would have been whipped but for the running of our cavalry. The fight was going on well for us until 4 O'C in the evening when most of the cavalry on our left gave way & let the Yankee cavalry run them into Winchester causing a most disgraceful stampeded in town…the Yankee cavalry got to the lower end of the town near where our Hosp. was established. Our infantry still held their position a while longer but were finally forced to fall back as the Yankee cavalry were getting all around them. The Yankee infantry were whipped & badly used up much worse than ours. But our entire army left Winchester hurriedly about sunset…most of it arrived here that night much disorganized & worn down…we lost many good men, Gen. Rodes among the No. Gen. York of La. Brig. had his arm amputated. Col. Funk of the 5th Va. was mortally wounded. Our entire loss killed, wounded & missing will not fall much short of 3000. I suppose some of our men have not stopped running yet, especially the cavalry. This is a splendid position…the enemy has a large force. They were coming across Hupp's Hill for several hours yesterday. We are prepared for them here. We had heavy skirmishing along a portion of our line last evening. Just now we hear cannonading in the Page Valley. All [is] totally quiet in our front this morning…they may go up the Page Valley to…try to force us to fall back from this position. We have marching orders…we may fall back, but I can't think we will be forced back. Our army is in the breastworks which have been made stronger during yesterday & last night…aff. your Bro. Dave…". Minor spotting, else VG.
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