During the Chancellorsville Campaign With The 67th New York

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005

A wonderful war-date Union soldier's, 3pp. 8vo., letter written in ink by Corp. Ambrose Harris, Co. H, 67th New York Vols., Fairfax Court House, [Va.], June 23, 1863 to his friend Capt. William Clarke 85th New York concerning the Chancellorsville Campaign and of losing heart in winning the war after repeated defeats, reading, in part: "…we have just got to Fairfax station…from the Rappahannock River. Fighting Joe's army is about played out…in Va [Virginia]…we are expecting a heavy battle at Bull Run before long…that will be the 3rd Bull Run. We lost a great many of our brigade [getting] here. They fell dead upon the roadside while marching. The sun burned like fire and the dust was awful…General [Alfred] Pleasonton had one of the greatest cavalry fights ever known at Middleburg about 18 miles from here. The enemy is…100,000 strong…the army of General Hooker's will stand a poor sight. We did not have to fight on the rear guard at all on our retreat…the cavalry has been fighting at Aldie and Middleburg for 3 days…Benjamin Simons [POW the Wilderness May 6, 64, died at Wilmington, NC Mar. 10, 65] is orderly of our company…Warren Hulbert got his thumb shot off at the battle of Fredericksburg. It is getting better…our brigade made the charge upon Marye's Heights. We took them about 2 o'clock on Sunday…when Hooker was fighting at…Chancellorsville…the Naples boys send their best respects…". Included is the original transmittal envelope missing its stamp. Harris was captured while in the hospital at Fredericksburg during Grant's Overland campaign on May 8, 1864. Exchanged he was discharged May 24, 1865. One negligible mouse chew affecting two words, else very good.

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