July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
A good war-date Confederate officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Capt. Leonard Williams, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, "North of Rapidan, Orange Co., [Va.], Sept. 25, 1863", on battling Buford's cavalry near the Rapidan on Sept. 22, 1863, in part: "...we have gone through the ordeal of another day's fight against great odds…the Yankees were moving beyond our left flank in heavy force towards Charlottesville with a view of destroying the RR…we were moved at daylight…and about 11 oak met them. We had our usual luck to fight and retire before superior numbers. The position we first held was so obstructed that we were liable to be flanked and indeed we were at one time almost encompassed. After 3 or 4 hours of fighting we fell to a better position, where the enemy refused to attack us. The next day…being reinforced, we drove them back across the Robinson River. They were completely baffled in their purposes. We took about a hundred prisoners and we lost 40 or 50 prisoners. Our regiment lost 4 killed and some 8 or 10 wounded in the company. Jos. Knotts was severely wounded in the neck. He is…doing very well. The enemy got around us which made it necessary to fall back. At the same time two charges were made, one to the front, and the other to the rear while we were retiring. The enemy were pressing us severely with their sharpshooters. I was ordered to charge them with my squadron. It was a dashing charge and a success. We drove the enemy into the woods and gave the brigade time to move off. At the same time the Philips Legion made a brilliant charge to the front and routed them. These two charges enabled us to draw off in a better position of safety. I regret losing two capital men in the charge belonging to Company D…my squadron behaved gallantly and recd the recommendations of our col. and also Col. Gordon…and everyone who witnessed it. After two days incessant marching and fighting, we succeeded in thwarting the enemy and driving him back across the river. The Richmond papers erroneously state our loss at much greater than it was…our loss is less than about 100 in all killed, wounded and prisoners. The enemy lost that many prisoners and no doubt many in killed and wounded. The enemy are now beyond Robinson River which empties into the Rapidan near Rapidan Station. Our army here is in high spirits on account of the great victory at Chickamauga…Rosecrans is cut off from his supplies at Chattanooga…he will now have to give battle. I do hope our advantages are not overstated and that something still better may grow out of the situation. I lost my old hat in the charge, which the enemy captured. I had the good fortune to borrow a cap on the field, which I am still wearing…Sept. 26th…health of our regiment has never been better. The regiment now has only about 125 men for duty. About 200 of them are at home for horses and a good many here are without any. I have 5 men now in hospitals from severe wounds but I think they are all doing well…". VG.
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