A Cavalryman Sees His Friend Killed In Battle And His Body Pillaged

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

A poignant war-date Union cavalryman's letter written by Pvt. Frederick Buck, Co. C, 5th U.S. Cavalry " 3p. octavo, U.S. General Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland, October 7, 1863, with cover addressed to Harriet Crawford of Long Island, NY, and reads in part: "…I take my pen to comply with your request to give you the full particulars of the death of your Nephew Corporal George Crawford…I think it is but part of my duty to give you all the information and consolation am able to give you, although it is very hard for me to write as my right arm is all shattered and grown stiff and I can only use my hand but still I will do it. The best friend and comrade I had in the Regiment I lost when George Crawford was killed, he fell about 20 yars from where I was laying and I heard him moaning and say my poor Mother, my dear mother if I only could see her before I die, and I could not get to him although I crawled a little ways towards him but could not make it before I fainted and when I came to…again the Rebels were all around me and George was dead. After the Rebels carried me off I saw one of them who had searched Corporal Crawford's pockets, I asked him what he found in the dead man's pocket he showed me a watch which I recognized belonging to Corporal Crawford and several letters. I asked the Rebel to give the watch and letters to me and I would send to his Crawford relations as soon I got north but he said to me that I would not live another day and he might as well hold on to it and I could not be sway him to give it to me, and the thieving rascal took my boots off my feet, I suffered terrible while I was in their hands. Corporal George Crawford was a good soldier and a very true friend of mine, as he joined the Regiment the same time as I did, he was also a soldier of the Lord, and I hope that you will meet him in a better world. I asked the Rebels if they had buried him and they told me yes…George fell in a noble and holy cause for which I would lay down my life any time…" VG. Buck and Crawford both became casualties during a bitter skirmish with rebel cavalry at Manassas Gap on July 21, 1863.

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