Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A war-date Union solder's letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. William W. Thompson, Co. E, 101st Penn. Vols. [POW Plymouth, N. C., 4/20/64, died of disease Andersonville, Ga., 8/09/64, buried Andersonville National Cemetery Grave #5179], "In camp near Harrison Landing, James River, Va., July 19, 1862", in part: "…I also wrote to G. V. Lawrence asking him to use his influence with the government to have me called home to recruit…I am bound to go home as soon as I get money let it be honorable or dishonorable. This has been rather a strange move…when we fought that desperate bloody battle of Fair Oaks which I will never forget ware only 6 miles from Richmond. The right of our line was within 2 1/2 miles of Richmond . Now our whole army is 27 miles from Richmond. There was some desperate fighting done in this retreat before Richmond…when we were ordered to move from our camp at White Oak Swamp I was sent back some 4 miles to the Chickahominy to bring up our wagons…by this means I got behind the Regt. which I did not see for a week…got into a desperate fight at the place where the road crosses White Oak Swamp. This makes two very hard battles for me. I want to see no more…it is horrible. This day I shed tears for the first time since I have been in the service. I saw a man from the 62nd Rgt. I asked him if [he] knew Lieut. A[lvin] King said he was killed day before yesterday. I couldn't control my feelings I had to turn away from the man and wept like a child. The boys in his company say he was wounded in both legs. Two men started to carry him off the field but he was struck while in their hands by a shot or fragment of shell which caused him to jump out of their hands in a kind of convolution. [Actually, he was so severely wounded that rebel surgeon's amputated his right leg in order to save his life. He survived the war.] Fox was wounded in the thigh, Cy Workman was shot through the wrist. They don't know where he is. Bill Gibbs is missing. I spent the most of my time with…the balance of the Monongahela boys in the 62nd Regt…say to Chill's parents and friends that he…has proved himself a brave soldier & an efficient officer…he is a great favorite with his men…poor Cooper [Adjutant Robert F. Cooper] has made a perfect ass of himself. He disgraced himself as much as a man could…he is a coward Jane. At the battle of Fair Oaks he acted very cowardly which we can all bare testimony but for God sake don't mention it to any person. His disgrace is complete enough without branding him at home with cowardice…he made more fuss while I was home than all the balance of the Regt but if he gets home Jane and you see him I want you to treat him kindly for I pity the poor vain creature. My respect for him tho' is all gone…I consider we were whipped before Richmond and had to retreat…we are now encamped on the farm which Old Gen. Harrison was born. It is a very pretty place. I…saw fields of wheat containing 50 to 300 acres…which is destroyed…your husband, W. W. Thompson". Soiled, else VG
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