Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A rare war-date Union surgeon's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Asst. Surgeon William C. Towle 12th Maine Vols., Harrisonburg, [Va.], Oct. 1, 1864, to his wife, in part: "Since last…we have made an advance of eight miles and returned to this place…my two last letters were necessarily short on account of prepare of business…of our fight and great success near Winchester. It was a great victory and complete route of the Rebel army. I have seen many of the Rebel wounded and they all agree…that it was the greatest defeat that they have ever sustained in the Valley. Our division formed the first line of battle in the centre. The 6th Corps on the right. They drove the rebs before them for over half a mile when the Rebs made a furious charge on the right forcing back the 6th C[orps] and nearly flanking our division…now our brave boys were obliged to retreat leaving the dead and wounded on the ground, but they only fell back to the second line when they again rallied and the 'Johneys' were obliged to fall back again. Dr. [Eldridge A.] Thompson was detailed to the hospital before we went into the field. I kept with the Regt…until the order came for retreat. I then helped off all of the wounded that I could to the hospital which was about a mile and a half to the rear. We had two Capts. killed dead on the field, Thompson & Phillips…they fell at the head of their companies cheering their men on. When I got to the division hops…which consisted of two houses, a barn and mill crowded with wounded and they were still coming. I soon found Dr. T and to his eternal disgrace and shame [he was] drunk. I was provoked with him and…I used some language unwarranted by an inferior to a superior officer. I just told him what I tho't…Dr. Hoffman, the Med. Director for division, soon saw him and ordered a man to remove him immediately. I worked all night over our men 50 of which I got together into a corn barn and some straw for them to lay on. By order of the Med. Director I remained with our wounded the next day and on Wednesday I started on to Winchester, the wounded being all removed to that place. The army at this time were pushing after the retreating Rebs…at W. I was put into an hospital with over 200 patients with Dr. [Charles H.] Andrus of the 128th N. Y. I remained here until Saturday noon operating most of the time…Dr. T. loss was my gain. He is with the Regt and is feeling very bad…the Med. Director told me that he should file charrs against him…he will be court maritaled and will most surely [be] discharged from the service…the Regt are all down on him…they are talking of getting up a petition to have him discharged and to have me promoted…it would be useless for me to attempt to describe the bloody scenes of the battlefield, the groans of the dying mingling with yells of the advancing columns with the continual roar of musketry and artillery. These sounds are still ringing in my ears. I don't care myself about being any nearer than I was that day for shot an shell plouged the ground and cut the trees all about me. We suffered the most when our first line fell back for then they opened their batteries with grape and canister, a most murderous fire. We are now nearly 100 miles from Harpers Ferry…there is no danger from guerrillas if the trains are properly guarded . Small parties of guerrillas occasionally 'gobble up' stragglers and such like…we shall go down the Valley and destroy everything on the way. It will be cutting off a great deal of subsistence from the Rebel army. This is a very productive country…Wm. C. Towle." The original transmittal cover is included. Minor toning, else VG.
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