THE BATTLE OF SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE – TWO LEGAL SIZE PAGES IN INK

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

The 2pp legal letter in ink is datelined, Camp 5th Me. Vol. In the woods near Spotsylvania Court House May 19th, 1864. In part, "I wrote you of our loss in my last letter. Since then Capt. Clark (Daniel Carlton) & Lt. O. B. Stevens have died. I HAVE NOT A CAPT. LEFT WITH ME, but three of them are detailed on extra duty. Capt. Stevens (John Hubbard) with Div. H. Quarters, Capt. Walker (Nathan) with Recruitment, Capt. Sanborn (Fred G.) is Brigade inspector in the place that Capt. Hall filled. I COMMENCED THIS CAMPAIGN WITH SIX CAPT., TWO OF THEM ARE DEAD AND I FEEL ANOTHER MAY GO THE SAME WAY. I LEFT WITH SEVENTEEN LINE OFFICERS, OUT OF THAT LOT I HAVE THREE LEFT. ... I RALLIED MY LITTLE BAND BY SNATCHING UP MY FLAG AND CALLING UPON MY BOYS NOT TO LEAVE ME. THERE WERE SEVENTEEN BULLET HOLES PUT THROUGH THE REGT. BANNER AND SIX OR EIGHT THROUGH THE NATIONAL & NEITHER WERE UNFURLED BUT FEW MINUTES IN THE FIGHT. ... ONE OF THE FLAG STAFF WAS HALF SHOT AWAY. THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THE COLOR GUARD WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED. THURLOW (CYRUS T.) WAS ONE OF THE NUMBERED & BUMPUS (MORRIS F.), THE FELLOW WHO PULLED THE REBEL OFFICER OUT OF THE RIFLE PIT AT RAPPAHANNOCK, HE WAS ANOTHER. I THINK MY LOSS SO FAR IS ABOUT ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY AND OF THAT NUMBER, FORTY AT LEAST ARE DEAD OR WILL DIE OF WOUNDS. ... I HAVE NOT CHANGED MY CLOTHING SINCE I LEFT CAMP NEAR THREE WEEKS AGO SO YOU KNOW HOW DIRTY WE ARE GETTING. I HAVE JUST SEEN THE OXFORD DEMOCRAT WHICH SAYS COL. EDWARDS IS WOUNDED & MILLETT (HENRY R.) KILLED BUT SAY TO THE FOLKS IT IS NOT SO AS I AM ALL RIGHT & SO IS MILLETT. ... WE WERE UNDER FIRE ABOUT HALF THE DAY YESTERDAY BUT ALL IS QUIET SO FAR TODAY. I AM EXPECTING WE WILL HAVE A BRUSH YET TONIGHT BUT PERHAPS WE MAY YET BE OVER IT. I AM IN COMMAND OF THE REG. TODAY AS UPTON IS AWAY. I AM BUILDING RIFLE PITS IN A FEW RODS OF THE REBELS' LINE. ..."

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