2021-05 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2021
War-date Union officer's battle letter, 4pp. folio, written by 2nd Lt. Harrison Hume, 11th Maine Vols., Williamsburg, [Va.], May 7, 1862, to his parents, reading, in part: "àthere has been a battle fought this side of YorktownàI am happy to say that Maine has lost none of her sonsàlast Sunday morning word came that the enemy had evacuated their stronghold at Yorktownàwe were ordered out with nothingàbut a few days rationsàI marched 8 or 10 miles with the regimentà[then] 20 miles in the mudàtheir first line [breastworks] was the strongestàthey abandoned some 90 large siege guns at Yorktown. All the guns they could move, they did. There is one continual line of fortifications from Yorktown to Williamsburg. The second great line is here at Williamsburgàon Monday morning, our troops overtook the rebels & the battle commenced. The rebels did not attempt to defendàthe fortsàit was nothing but their rear guardàHooker's division did most of the fighting during the day &àsuffered severely. They fought at a great disadvantage, coming through the woodsàthe rebels were in the clear fieldàour boys had to fight hard to keep the rebels from flanking themàHooker's division/brigade was sent to flank the rebelsàthey were not strong enough & they were ordered three times to retreat, but old Hooker said it was not retreat that he wanted, it was reinforcementsàthe 6th Maine is in his Brigadeàthey saw six regiments of rebels advancing in a splendid line of battle. Hancock gave the order to march in retreatàthey obeyed orders & marched back a few rodsàhe gave the order, about face, forward & then they fired. Mowed the rebels downàour boys fired lowàthen our boys chargedàall the time theyàfired over our boy's headsànot a man was hurt in the 6th & but four or five in the Brigadeàthey totally destroyed six regiments of rebelsàMonday night the rebels fledàI have seen the deadàof a battlefieldàyou do not know its realities until you see it. The dead & wounded in all directions & positions, dead horses, broken artillery caissons, etcàwe were very lucky to get off with so little lossàwhenàthe whole army took up the cheeràit was an exciting time. Just then, Gen. McClellan came on to the fieldàhe ordered us to reinforce Hancock double quickàoff we started. I had already walked 18 miles in the mudàbut the excitement kept me up & I went onàit was the worst night everàthe men had nothing but their dress coats on & they were wet to the skinàit was coldàwe took a good many prisonersàthey are the most filthy, inferior set of men I ever saw. They dressed in all kinds of waysàI could hardly own them as Americans. Imagineàthe most miserable set of devilsàin the north & you have the rebelsàHarrison." Minor toning, else VG.
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