This CSA Soldier Would Be Killed at Chancellorsville

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/26/2023

A Confederate Soldier's 2pp. letter written by James H. Rutledge who enlisted on 6/22/1861 at Wythe County, VA as a Private and was mustered into "K" Co. VA 50th Infantry. He was twice promoted, Corpl 9/20/1861 and 1st Sergt 4/15/1863. James H. Rutledge was Killed on 5/3/1863 at Chancellorsville, VA. Datelined, Narrows, Giles County, VA., August 21, 1862 to his parents. In part, "I take this occasion to inform that I'm improving considerably. I havent anything but a very bad boil but it is in a rather bad place. ... The cloth I wrote to you about making a lighter color ... to correspond to the Confederate uniform ... No Yankees are troubling us now ... I have some of the finest times conversing with Capt [Elisha Clark] Burchett you ever saw. He is one of the finest men I ever saw ..." BURCHETT, ELISHA CLARK: Capt., Enl., pvt.. Wytheville, Wythe Co., 7/17/61. Hosp., sick, White Sulphur Springs by 11/1/61. Elected capt. 5/8/62. Charged with cowardice for actions Chancellorsville 5/2/63-5/3/63. Deserts 7/1/63 "on the march to Gettysburg…just before reaching the Battlefield and did not come near the Enemy during the fight." Absent through 11/10/63, recommends he be dropped from rolls and arrested, "if he can be found." "He returned home to -Jonesville, Lee Co. and has disappeared from that vicinity. It is believed he has escaped to Indiana." Dropped from rolls for prolonged AWOL, ceases to be an officer 11/24/63. Died Vancouver, British Columbia. 2/3/1913. Bd. there. South Vancouver Cemetery.James Madison Rutledge, Henderson's father, at age 48, also entered the service as a substitute for James A. Taylor in January 1863. But sadly, after losing so many of his young children to diphtheria and losing his son at Chancellorsville, James lost his life too-killed in action on 2 July 1863 at Gettysburg.

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