July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
A nice war-date Confederate officer's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Capt. Leonard Williams, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, "Bivouac near Hazel River, Culpeper Co., Va., Oct. 22, 1863", on battling the Union cavalry during the Rappahannock Station campaign, in part: "...we had just concluded another arduous campaign of 2 weeks. Genl Lee has made another failure. His plans…were well conceived but…owing to Genl. Hill's slow marches, the enemy had time to affect a timely retreat. I hear Genl. Hill is under arrest. If Genl. Hill had been up on time, Genl. Lee could have forced them into a general engagement. Genl. Lee has been forced to fall back again on account of supplies for the army and the whole country from the Rappahannock to the Potomac is an unbroken waste-the people have all fled from their homes and the Yankees have burned a great many places. Fencing has been destroyed for miles and miles, not a corn stalk can be seen…the enemy were driven into their fortifications near Centreville. The cavalry went around to their rear and felt and found out their position. It was the fortune of our regiment to be engaged in only two of the many fights. Our cavalry was engaged in both advancing and falling back. The first, in Culpeper, we came into the fight about 5 1/2 oak in the evening. We drove the enemy from the field without any loss on our part except 2 or 3 wounded. The Yankee cavalry have been whipped and driven back in every fight. In the last fight at Buckland, 6 miles beyond Warrenton, we retreated leisurely till about 4 1/2 oak and then turned on them. Our brigade was sent around to flank them but Stuart pressed them so severely that he routed them and drove them back in the utmost confusion and with such rapidity, our brigade could not reach the point of attack before they were driven beyond it…we captured 350 prisoners. Killed and wounded…one hundred to one hundred and fifty. It was the completest rout of the war. In the several engagements, our cavalry has made the capture of 1,200 or 1,500 prisoners. Our army is now on the south side of the Rappahannock. The campaign was a very trying one. The troops were much distressed for want of provisions…it was borne without a murmur. I lost one of my men, John Green, in the first fight at James City. He was acting courier for Genl. Gordon-he was the son of Mr. Pleasant Green…he was a brave and good soldier…he was killed instantly by a shell…the hat is very handsome and fits nicely…what have you done with my overcoat and suit of clothes…jeans is selling for $8 and $10 per yd…you ought to be able to get a good price for the suit and will try to get government cloth for an overcoat…the Yankees have taken off all the negroes from this county. It is said hay are turning off the cars with nothing to eat…they are crying and debugging in Alexandria to be brought back to their masters. The last time they went back, they nearly stripped the county of negroes…". VG
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.