2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
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A great early war-date Union soldier's letter recalling his regiment's first clash with Confederate forces near Vienna, Virginia by Pvt. Daniel Bidwell Johnson, Co. F, 1st Connecticut Vols. On May 24, 1861 Federal forces confiscated the Alexandria, Loudon & Hampshire Railroad before that Confederate General Robert E. Lee destroyed the bridges and tracks south of Vienna. On June 16th, the First Connecticut Infantry commanded by Union General Brigadier Daniel Tyler advanced from Alexandria towards Vienna by train on the rails of the A. L. & H. RR. Poor rolling stock and loose couplings forced Tyler and his men to turn back when just beyond Vienna. Soon after passing back through Vienna they were ambushed and fired into by the Confederates under command of Col. Maxey Gregg. The main body of Johnson's letter recounts that event and the excitement that ensued. The following day, June 17th, Union General Robert G. Schenck accompanied now by the 1st and 2nd Ohio, advanced again towards Vienna. Nearly exactly near the same spot they were attacked ion the same manner by Col. Gregg's men. That day Johnson's regiment did not accompany Schenck's men, but were instead on review by Secretary of War, Simon Cameron near the Long Bridge, District of Columbia. They were immediately dispatched to help Schenck beleaguered command. They arrived to witness a scene of horror. The Ohioans killed were all privates. Their names were: John R. Barnes, age 31; Eugene G. Burke, 21; Thomas C. Finton, 25; David W. Mercer, 22; Joseph C. Smith, 20; Philip Stroad, 21 and Daniel Sullivan, 20. There were six privates also wounded. Here again, Johnson recalls witnessing the horrifying scene of the dead and wounded across the battleground. A very rare account of the clashes at Vienna, Virginia that were among the first in Northern Virginia and of the first Connecticut soldier to shed his blood during the Civil War. Johnson's letter is on finely illustrated, 2pp. 4to., "View of Washington City" stationery, "Virginia, Fairfax County, June 20th 1861and is addressed to "My dear father," reading, in part: "- we are very busy removing and preparing for the enemy. We have moved 5 miles - from Camp Tyler in Virginia - 2 miles from Fairfax Court House where there is about 2000 rebels and 3 miles from Vienna where there is 3000. Last Sunday [June 16, 1861] we started for our old camp and went most to Vienna on the cars that the soldiers have taken. When we took it the track was all torn up for 2 miles and all the bridges burnt - the N. Y. 12th regt. found an engine in between the bridges that [had been] burnt. It was smashed up pretty well but they got it in running order and now convey troops over it. We went from our camp last Sunday to Vienna and was shot into [while] a coming back. One man in the rear was wounded [Pvt. George H. Bugbee, Co. A. He was] shot through the shoulder. He is somewhat better now - when the shot was fired we all started out of the cars and formed into a line ready for battle- then we scoured the woods far and near and searched every house in our reach and got 3 men of rather a suspicious character - one of them they say is the [?] You never see such a time in your life nor I either. Everything is confusion. It came so sudden, but we had to go according to orders. One of the Ohio regiments [1st Ohio Vols.] went up the next day and when they had got little above Vienna - when they was fired into and 7 killed right out and 8 wounded. I saw the dead and wounded lying on the ground when we came up. It was an awful sight to behold but not one flinched. We started to help them but before we got there [the rebels] had gone - they had a masked battery of 6 cannon - [but] the Ohio boys did not see it until it was opened up on them - we are all ready to start at a moments notice - direct your letter to me First regt. Ct. Vts., Washington, D. C. - Daniel Bidwell Johnson." Johnson and the First Connecticut participated in the battle of First Bull Run and was mustered out on July 31, 1861. In September, he reenlisted in the 7th Connecticut Vols. He served faithfully raising to the rank of sergeant. He was wounded in action at Deep Bottom, Va., Sept. 29, 1864. Very minor toning, else VG. 1000-1500
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