Raynors 2020-05 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020
War-date Confederate soldier Autograph Letter Signed by James Z. McChesney (1843-1919) twice wounded in the Civil War once by a sabre cut, five pages, octavo, pencil, Camp 14th Va. Cav. near Charleston, August 22, 1864, with good content, it reads in part: "...I arrived yesterday and found the Brigade in line of battle near this place, and it was whilst I was in line of battle that I rece'd your long expected...letter. Our Brigade was engaged yesterday morning...Our company lost one man badly wounded, and don't know how many mortally scarred.... Our Brigade led the advance into Winchester and our Regt captured one stand of colors near Winchester when Sheridan retreated. It is said that the Yankee Army in the Valley numbers 72,000 men, the largest Army that has ever been in this seciton of the states. Longstreet's Corps and Fitz Lee's Cavalry are here. We fought them all day yesterday, and they fortified whilst they were fighting and fell back under cover of the night. Our infantry has been engaged this morning, but the Yankees have given back and all seems quiet along the lines at present. I expect that we will fall back again to Fisher's Hill and let the Yankees advance on us. I saw 420 prisoners that had been captured near Winchester by our troops. The Yanks didn't use any Artillery at all yesterday.... I saw Capt Rife...The 1st Lieut. of his company was killed yesterday in a charge. Genl. Ransom has resigned and his place has been filled by Major Genl. Lomax who formerly commanded my old Regt, the 11th Va. I think that Lomax has no superior in the Cavalry service. The Yankees burnt several barns, wheat stacks, and haystacks between Strasburg and Winchester. In fact, they burnt all that they had time to burn south of Winchester. Nothing was burnt north of Winchester because they consider that a portion of their dominions.... Lt. Rigar, Goodin, Hanger and Capt Smith made their escape from Moorefield. Lt. Macky was certainly killed. Rigar hid himself in some weeds, but the Yankees kept passing so near to him, that he was afraid they would discover him. There happened to be a cornfield near, so he made for it and the Yankees saw him and chased him. He run towards the river, and as he was getting over the fence, he saw a hollow tree near the fence that had been broken off about 7 feet from the ground, so he gave a leap and jumped into it. The Yankees tracked him to the stump of the tree but lost his trail. He stayed in the tree until night and then took the woods and come out..." Fine condition.
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