2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
A good war-date Confederate soldier's 3pp. 4to., letter written in pencil by Pvt. Benjamin H. Anthony, Co. I, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, Front Royal, [Va.], May 26, [1862] to his mother concerning his encounter with the enemy during the First battle of Winchester and on sending home his servant, reading, in part: "…I have just gotten out of a very severe battle…my horse was killed under me and I am truly thankful that I was saved…I am now here without a horse…Capt. A. left me and four men here. Sam A. and John Scott had their horses killed also. We have had a glorious victory here at Winchester and Strausberg. Our forces are fifteen miles beyond Winchester pressing the enemy. All my clothes and blankets were lost when my horse was shot. I ran back to where our infantry were some two miles. I went back to the battlefield that night but my things were all gone…John Mix is one of the bravest boys I ever saw in my life. He and one of our boys captured one piece of artillery…about five miles from Winchester. We have…about two thousand prisoners…we are going on to Maryland but we have not enough force here for that…I am going to send Jordan home as soon as I can…he is very little use to me now for we are all the time scouting…I am going to try…to come home after a horse…none of our men were injured. Capt. A [John D. Alexander] was drunk [during the battle]. He is not fitting to lead a filly to water much less a parcel of men…". Anthony's phonetic spelling has been corrected for ease in reading. Some toning, else very good.
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