2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
A truly touching war-date Confederate letter, 8pp. on 6 1/2" x 8" letter sheets, written in ink by the wife of Capt. William E. Bird, Co. E, 15th Georgia Infantry, Richmond, Va., June 29, [1862] to her mother giving a very detailed and heart felt look at life in camp and Richmond during the Seven Days campaign, reading, in very small part: "…my dear husband was in two fights. I did not know it until after it was over…he was in the fight Friday evening[the battle of Gaines Mill]…in a terribly exposed position. They…had to double-quick across an open space of a quarter of a mile, exposed to a galling cross fire…it is fearful to hear of the hail storm of bullets that flew around them. 71 fell dead & wounded…our dear noble Col. McIntosh had his thigh…fractured…it was amputated yesterday…the surgeons told me…that the case was nearly hopeless [McIntosh died of his wounds soon after]…Mrs. McIntosh was with me & I had to break the news to her…I went to see…Mrs. McI. & her noble husband…I was engrossed with our wounded men…[and] cannot write so often…thank god, our co. was led into battle, all say, by the coolest Captain in the Regt. I hear…praises of his calm courage-his steady orders…not to fire until ordered &…not to lose a shot…just here, a great squad of Yankee prisoners have passed by our guards…with three splendid regimental flags…immense stars & stripes-I could not help a feeling of ecstasy at [the] sight of the splendid captured by our brave men…we got a carriage & pass from general Winder…to go out to the Battle field Hospital to…poor Col. McI. Mrs. Mc said she could not go without me…we found the brave Col in a tent with one leg…with a gentle smile on his lips for all of us…I left Mrs. Mc with her husband & was taken by some friends to see the bodies of poor Lieut. Tilley & Capt. Burch & Lieut. Ivey. I stooped down over poor John Tilley & my tears fell like rain. His face was quiet…stern & perfectly natural…Capt. Forbes…of our Regt-cut off some of his hair for his wife. He was shot in the breast & only said, 'I'm a dead man' & fell lifeless-Col. McIntosh…said to the men, 'I'm badly hurt-but there are others worse off than me, attend to them.' I have learned to love our good Col…the Brigade Surgeon…told me his case was…critical…I shall be with him…as much as possible…Col. Lane of the 49th (Jack Lane) is wounded painfully in the arm & I have his wound to dress & care for…Col. Bob Smith was sinking rapidly yesterday….I have just been shocked by the news that Bob Smith is dead…Lucius Lamar…(Col of the 8th) fell yesterday while gallantly leading his Regt. The report is that he a alive & a prisoner but others say he is dead! Alas, for our beloved land!…to lose so many of its brave young spirits ghastly fissures in the side…the bullet through the head & the brains all out…Oh, my heart sickens of the sight of so much agony…I went with Edge [her husband] to the 3rd Ga. Hospital & from there…to see the wounded at…John's boarding house. Major Tracy is doing well…his slight wound in the face is annoying…but as he says 'will either make or mar his matrimonial prospects.'…Lt. Jordan is with him…Charley Wiley was very glad to see me &…rejoiced to hear [that] I was in the city…the government has impressed men back in the city to bring in the wounded…Phil Tracey is also wounded in the thigh…the 15th was engaged again yesterday morning (Saturday)…as support to the 7th & 8th which was in front & suffered severely…yesterday I went to the camp of the 15th…in rode Edge as he was not in a post of danger…he had got overheated in the double quick to the fight…then two fight followed…then the cold night air…chilled them. Edge was so hoarse he could not speak above a whisper…I sit by him & write you this horrid letter…today…Gen. [Stonewall] Jackson [is] getting into McClellan's rear…we have got him nearly surrounded & he must fight or surrender. The battle has been raging for two days…firing is going on today, but no fight of any importance so far, tho' it is thought there may be the PM [the battle of Savage Station was unfolding as she wrote this letter] Oh, Mother the frightful sights at the field hospital, I…must tell you…many poor fellows [has] had legs & arms cut off…they performed operations in the house by open windows. I saw a man's hand being taken off. I walked thro' rows of dead men-heard the groans of the wounded as they were lifted from the Ambulances…on stretchers. Oh, the shrieks under amputation! The moans of the dying!…I sobbed as if my heart break…direct to care of Surgeon J. S. Baxter…". With a loving heart, Mrs. Bird followed her husband into the field. While there she saw sights and sounds she never expected to be exposed to. Compassionately, she cared for the men she came to know and perhaps became a nurse since she directed her letter to the brigade surgeon. Her husband was wounded and captured during the battle of Second Bull run. One wonders whether she was with him then. Negligible damp stains, else very good.
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