2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
A Confederate Surgeon's 4pp. letter written by Dr. William B. Shields who enlisted as an Asst Surgeon into "E" Co. MS 11th Infantry. Datelined Near McClellan Headquarters, June 29th/62. The letter is written on a Federal patriotic letter sheet which shows Lincoln and McClellan reviewing the troops. Shields writes a note on this image, "McClellan reviewing a Yankee regiment which we have whipped". Writing to his wife, in part "I write you on paper taken from the a Yankee camp.. We are now resting from a bloody and desparately continual battle in which our brave forces came out victorious but with heavy losses ... Our regiment fought with that desparation characterizing Mississippians fighting for all that they hold dear on earth. ... You will see no doubt mention of our gallantry by our General (R.E. Lee) who has complimented us already. We were first in their fortifications, first in their batteries. ... After many troops had been repulsed by them, I came out all safe with the exception I was so imprudent as to lug a grape shot. I was resting my elbow on a pine sapling and my hand on the side of my head when a grape came whipping along and cut the sapling in half, striking the stock of my pistol and gamebag, cutting my breath from me for a short time and falling, without further harm, in my gamebag where I found it in the morning. I shall preserve it as a relic ... We will without a doubt destroy the great Yankee Army soon. It will be a blow from which they can never recover. ... We will attack them again shortly and sweep the young Napolean from the field like a destroying avalanche.
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