2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Autograph Letter Signed, “William S. Henay” 1st Massachusetts Infantry later with the 56th Mass, 10p. octavo, Camp Winfield Scott, near Yorktown, Virginia, April 18, 1862, and reads in part: “...we have moved again and I suppose now occupy our final position in McClellans army our Division is in the advance and will take position in the center in a line of Battle. Genl. Fitz John Porter has the right, Genl Hooker the center and Genl Hamilton the left, these three Divisions numbering some 50,000 or 60,000 men make up Genl Heintzelman’s Core de Armee only. Genl. Keye’s and Sumner’s Corps are here also and besides all this there is no end to Artillery and Cavalry. Not a day or night passes but there is fighting along the advanced posts of both armies not a night or day goes by but some of our pickets are brought in dead or wounded. Since we have moved up to the front which was on Wednesday we have been called out every night...not a drum or musical instrument of any kind will be allowed to be heard by order of McClellan this I think is a very wise order for the enemy if they knew of our situation could shell us out in no time and make us fall back. It will take some time yet before McClellan will be ready to lay siege to Yorktown perhaps a week or ten days. Those raving Politicians in the shape of abolishionists at home and in Washington who are crying onward and very blood thirsty are all very ignorant of the work that has to be done before an army like the one McClellan has under his command can prepare to attack the enemys fortifications which extend from the York to the James River a distance of seven or eight miles. ...The Rebels have made several attempts to drive in our Pickets but in all cases have been repulsed...night before last the Rebels 4,000 or 5,000 strong left their entrenchment for the purpose of capturing a small Battery of 3 guns but McClellan got wind of it and prepared for the reception...when the Rebels made their appearance...they had run into a galling cross fire from our troops unexpected to them. Completely breaking up their ranks killing and wounding many of them, besides a number taken prisoners, our side lost 16 or 17 men in the skirmish...Col. Cowdin...[told] Capt Stone to shoot any man who got our of the ranks or shurked behind a fence and leave him there...” VG.
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