2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
Confederate soldier’s 15pp letter with cover, written by Captain G.L. Strait who enlisted as a Captain into SC 6th Infantry. Datelined: Camp Near Germantown, September 22, 1861, in part “The Virginia Regiment which we relieved had indiscreetly showed our Picket Posts by foolishly firing at the enemy at long range just as soon as we got there. ... They began to maneuver so as to get the range of our old muskets ... They’re snakes but they poured their shots in with their long range guns. They would show themselves bodly, would curse and abuse us, call us Rebels & Cowards and dare us to show ourselves. ... During the firing of the third morning, Col. Winder come within a few inches of being killed, and the 2nd day I was missed only a few inches. You would be astonished to see how accurately some of the Scamps shoot. ... The third day, they swore they intended to storm our line and take possession of a hill where my Head Quarters were. But old Winder doomed them to disappointment .. He sent Col. Stuart to get the assistance of Capt. Rosser’s Battery ... When Rosser was summuned .. he asked ‘Who do I go to assist?’ Tuesday night, the night we went to relieve the Virginia Regiment, the Colonel had determined to make an effort to cut the enemy off. He sent Rosser and the Marylanders .. lo and behold, the Virginians back out. Imagine the wrath of Rosser and the Marylanders. ... About 2-1/2 o’clock Rosser and the Infantry came to our assistance. Immediately his artillery began to play upon the enemy, who retreated. Winder at once ordered me to deploy the old Catawbas and move through the woods ... We moved steadily forward, the men acting more like old veterans of a hundred fights than raw volunteers, about 1/2 mile, when we saw the enemy down, up and around some old houses and fences. At once I halted the line of skirmishers, throwing them behind a fence, protected from the enemy’s fire, called Rosser up and showed him their position. He with the utmost velocity brought his guns to bear upon them. During this time, Winder had deployed the Marylanders and Pickens’ guard on my left ... Just as Rosser opened his battery, a general shout went up .. seconded by a general charge. Then came the time for fun. The cowardly enemy, who if he had known it, could have captured our entire force, took to heels leaving six prisoners ... ... it was to say at least of it, a brilliant and daring little exploit, or as some have termed it, a ‘brilliant small fight’. ... I tell you that Winder gave me and the Catawbas the brightest place in his record ... More than that, he gave the Captain and elegant sword taken from the Lt. prisoner who is from Maine and was in the Battle of Manassas . ... We feel certain that during our tour, the enemy must have lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, not less than from 15 to 25. ... if old Winder sees any possible chance to strike a blow, he is going to do it. His energy and hatred from Yankees will not allow him to be quiet. Put it down in your memoranda that WHEREVER THE ‘BLOODY SIXTH’ AND WINDER GO, SOMBODY IS GOING TO BE HURT. ...” On the back of the last page, “We hear the cannon booming now, not withstanding McClellan’s orders against Sunday movements. What they are up to remaind to be seen.”
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