2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
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: "…there has been a battle fought this side of Yorktown…I am happy to say that Maine has lost none of her sons…last Sunday morning word came that the enemy had evacuated their stronghold at Yorktown…we were ordered out with nothing…but a few days rations…I marched 8 or 10 miles with the regiment…[then] 20 miles in the mud…their first line [breastworks] was the strongest…they 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 Williamsburg…on Monday morning, our troops overtook the rebels & the battle commenced. The rebels did not attempt to defend…the forts…it was nothing but their rear guard…Hooker's division did most of the fighting during the day &…suffered severely. They fought at a great disadvantage, coming through the woods…the rebels were in the clear field…our boys had to fight hard to keep the rebels from flanking them…Hooker's division/brigade was sent to flank the rebels…they were not strong enough & they were ordered three times to retreat, but old Hooker said it was not retreat that he wanted, it was reinforcements…the 6th Maine is in his Brigade…they saw six regiments of rebels advancing in a splendid line of battle. Hancock gave the order to march in retreat…they obeyed orders & marched back a few rods…he gave the order, about face, forward & then they fired. Mowed the rebels down…our boys fired low…then our boys charged…all the time they…fired over our boy's heads…not a man was hurt in the 6th & but four or five in the Brigade…they totally destroyed six regiments of rebels…Monday night the rebels fled…I have seen the dead…of a battlefield…you do not know its realities until you see it. The dead & wounded in all directions & positions, dead horses, broken artillery caissons, etc…we were very lucky to get off with so little loss…when…the whole army took up the cheer…it was an exciting time. Just then, Gen. McClellan came on to the field…he ordered us to reinforce Hancock double quick…off we started. I had already walked 18 miles in the mud…but the excitement kept me up & I went on…it was the worst night ever…the men had nothing but their dress coats on & they were wet to the skin…it was cold…we took a good many prisoners…they are the most filthy, inferior set of men I ever saw. They dressed in all kinds of ways…I could hardly own them as Americans. Imagine…the most miserable set of devils…in the north & you have the rebels…Harrison." Minor toning, else VG.
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