THE BATTLE OF RAPPAHANNOCK STATION

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

This 4-1/2pp is finished on the back of an envelope. Datelined, Camp in the Field Near Brandy Station Nov. 9th, 1863. ONLY TWO MEN FROM COMPANY I WAS KILLED. HIS NAME WAS DAILY, A RECRUIT. THE TWO OFFICERS KILLED WAS LIEUT. TUBBS AND LT. FRENCH, CO. B. Our loss besides these two officers killed, Lt. Col. Millett, slightly wounded before getting into the fight, with a help for him to get to the rear. ... I did not tell you all I accomplished on Saturday evening last. I HAD NOT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED OFFICERS SURRENDER TO ME. I HAD AT ONE TIME (24) TWENTY-FOUR SWORDS AT ONE TIME.I CAPTURED COL. PENN, COL. MORGAN, COL. PECK, COL. GOODWIN, COL. MURCHISON, COL. WEBB, LT. COL. JONES, LT. COL. ELLIS, LT. COL. TAIT, MAJ. YORK. ALL OF THE ABOVE FIELD OFFICERS SURRENDERED TO YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT. THE FIRST THREE FIELD OFFICERS WAS FROM STONEWALL JACKSON'S BRIGADE. AND THE BEST OF ALL, I HAVE THE HONOR OF CAPTURING THE WHOLE OF STONEWALL JACKSON'S OLD BRIGADE. THAT IS WHAT WAS LEFT OF THEM. ... I dare not tell all in this. Only do not feel too proud. Say but little about it. The truth will out in time. I THINK I HAVE EARNED A STAR, AND I GUESS I WILL GET IT. I WILL SAY THIS THAT NO OFFICER STANDS BETTER OR HIGHER THAN MYSELF, OR AT LEAST I THINK SO. ... …AS I WAS GETTING IN THE PRISONERS IN THE DARK THAT NIGHT. I HAD SENT ALL OF MY MEN TO THE REAR WITH THE PRISONERS TILL I HAD BUT SIX WITH ME. STILL I KEPT ON TILL I WAS A LONG WAY FROM THE MAIN BODY OF THE REGT. I CAME UPON THREE COL. OF THE LOUISIANA BRIG. ALL AT ONE PLACE. ONE OF THEIR COMMANDERS, THE BRIG., I DEMANDED HIM TO SURRENDER BUT HE HESITATED & SAID HE WANTED TO CONSULT HIS OFFICERS. I TOLD HIM NO, NOT A MOMENT WOULD I GIVE, THAT MY COLUMNS WAS ADVANCING. I THEN GAVE THE ORDER FOR THE 5TH MAINE AND 121ST N. Y. TO FORWARD QUICK. THE FOOL COULD SEE HIS OWN MEN GOING THE OTHER WAY AND THOUGHT IT WAS MY MEN AND HE SURRENDERED AT ONCE, BUT I RETURNED HIS SWORD TO HIM AND TOLD HIM HE COULD RETAIN IT. BUT THE OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF THE PRISONERS TOOK IT FROM HIM, BUT WHEN GENL. WRIGHT LEARNED THE FACTS, HE RETURNED IT TO HIM AND COMPLIMENTED ME FOR MY GALLANTRY, BUT I SAY NO MORE. ..." Note that his last few lines are on an envelope that his wife had sent. The stamped envelope included has an ink notation on it: "Written on battlefield sitting on a dead horse." It is postmarked November 10th.

Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).