July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
Good war-date soldier’s letter archive from William Bull, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry, includes eighteen (18) letters by Bull, 1861-62, and four (4) in reference to his death at Brook’s Station, Virginia in December 1862. Most letters are multipage, octavo, some on regimental stationary, and read in part: “...[3/5/1862]We are now under marching orders have been so for about one week. Banks has crossed the river and we will have to be out of this as quick as the weather permits, but it is a snowing now so I think we will stay here a week or two yet. I think if we move we will go to Manassas. We expect to see some big fighting there...[3/8/62] We have not moved yet but expect it every day, the Major is a toughening us for it by giving us a drill with knapsacks on, about 4 miles every day...[4/29]We expect to move on our way to Richmond in a few days. We are going from here to Fredericksburg a town that lies on the Rapphannock River which is 40 miles from Richmond. It would not take us long to go there if the Rebels would let the railroads and bridges alone as we have to fix them up so as to get our provisions...We came through Manassas where the battle was fought...[5/18/62]part of our Brigade was fired upon by a party of guerillas and took 3 of our men prisoners. When they came through from Catlin Station to join us at Fredericksburg, we have had nothing to do since...We have got new Colonels now. Lieutenant Col. McKeon and Col. Sinclair...[6/3/62] I suppose there was some stir up North when they heard of Bank’s defeat but it has been followed up by several victories...[6/9/62] I thought as we were brought to start for Richmond that I would let you know that by the time you received this sheet that I would be with the Army now before Richmond, ready for the coming battle if it is our lot to be called into action. Although we may not get there in time to witness the Battle then again it may be a month or more before it will be attacked by our forces but when it is it must most certainly fall into our hands. Although if the Rebels make a determined stand it will be the bloodiest battle yet fought but I think it will end the war quicker if they fight, than it would if they evacuated it...[6/23/62]Our Division is within 4 miles of Richmond on a the Right Wing all but our Regt that was left to guard this place, half of it here and the rest at the station above where those guerillas took our wagon train...we can hear firing from the Rebels siege guns every day, our men is not allowed to answer them for fear of bringing on an engagement before they are ready....[6/26/62]there is all kinds of rumors here they say the right wing has fell back. Our Division was in the fight they were driven back or so reported by some of the stragglers that came here but others say that they were ordered to fall back. We think here that it is a military movement to get the rebels in a trap although we have had orders to be ready to leave here at any moment. We have the commissary stores all ready to burn, I suppose in case the Rebels should break through our lines...[9/5/62]Jackson has finely run us in our hole here at Washington, so I guess we will have little better times for while...went into battle and had Old McDowell to command the left wing and as a matter of course he let them flank us which resulted in another defeat but I suppose all is right or will be at the end, and that soon or I dont want to live in this country after it is settled...[9/12/62]I thought in my last that I should have another opportunity to write before this time, but Old Jackson did not stop when he got us into Washington so we have to keep on the go yet and Seldom it is that we can get a chance to write...God only knows how long we have yet to live in this way, but I hope the battle that is about to take place here in Maryland will settle the things one way or the other as God sees fit, for we have plenty of men now and less traitors to command them, and if we do not whip them it is because it is not right that we should and that we are laboring under some fault that we cannot see...[9/17/62]I have had hard marching and fighting ever since last Sunday. We marched 20 miles and engaged the enemy and drove them from their strong position which was on the top of a mountain the blue ridge, from there we chased them to here, and formed our lines last night, and opened upon them early this morning and we have had hard fighting all the fore noon. They are still at it, yet, we have just been relieved...we are getting reinforcement all the time...[9/20/62] The enemy has been allowed across the river for some reason or another so they have escaped from us again. We did not renew the battle the next day, as it is thought that they should do, and if so they might of captured the whole or part of their army but I suppose we have no right to judge for perhaps thing is again on for the best...this has been the biggest battle fought. I crossed the field yesterday and the sight was awful, pen can not describe it, although I suppose I saw but little as I only saw what was along the road we passed.. I hope it may be settled before there is ever another battle fought for the slaughter is awful to think of let alone seeing it...Our company which had 100 men has now 50 although there has not been only 3 killed, the rest is sick and wounded...[10/6/62] We have been encamped in this place [Sharpsburg] for several weeks, we begin to flesh up again while laying here doing nothing but we were a pretty poor set of men when we came here, sick by long marches and hard fighting...I did not think the Rebels was so determined but our prisoners that we caught are sure of whipping us, they say that they never will give up. If that surely is their minds there will have to be a great deal of fighting to do yet...[11/9/62]I suppose McClellan is bound to go to Richmond this fall if it is a possible thing. I am a little unwell at present with a small touch of neuralogy in the head and I have a pretty heavy load to carry and it wears me pretty hard. If I had that commission you spoke about I would not have to carry any load, and I would soon pay for the farm...” Private Bull who had served since October 1861, then subcomed to disease and died December 2, 1862 at Brook’s Station, Virginia. The following four letters pertain to his passing, includes: ALS by J.L. Bishop, Assistant Surgeon in Charge, Camp near Brook’s Station, December 2, 1862, and reads “This is to certify that William Bull a private in company I, Sixth Regt. P.R.V.C. died i n the Regimental Hospital of the command on the first day of Decr. instant of a non-contageous disease, and that the body may be transported with safety...” Fine condition...plus; ALS by Captain William Henry Harrison Gore [bvt Lt. Colonel], 3pp. octavo, Brook’s Station, December 7, 1862, addressed to Bull’s father and reads in part: “...I sit down to write you under circumstances which I wish were otherwise; but it has been the will of Him who ruleth nations and we must submit. In your loss of a son I have lost one of my best men and the country one of her bravest defenders. We had faced death on four hotly contested fields and on nine different days been under the fire of the enemy without faltering, yet he when the Summons came as we must all sooner or later subcome to the fell destroyer. He was taken sick while we were at Warrenton he complained of a headache...I did not think him really dangerous until the day he died, the doctor was quite encouraged up to the evening of his death. You do not know how gratified I was when I found he could be sent home for I knew it would be a satisfaction at least for his friends to see his face once more althought’were rigid with death...” Fine condition...plus; ALS by Lt. John M. Guyer who was Killed in Action at Spotsylvania Court House, 2pp. octavo, December 21, 1862, addressed to Bull’s mother, and reads in part: “...William was a noble soldier, always at his post, always ahead on the field of battle and always first to give assistance to sufferers. His morals were perfect, and his strict adherence to everything that was honorable, rendered him beloved by all who knew him. It was indeed hard for us, and still harder for you, to lose one so dearly, and generally beloved, but a kind providence has directed it so...” Fine condition...plus; ALS by Bull’s sister-in-law addressed to his widow, 4pp. octavo, December 19, 1862, and reads in part: “...Yours was received last evening. And how shall I ans it? I would gladly speak words of comfort and consolation. But knowing as I will do that words intend to sooth and comfort a crushed heart only tends to open the wound anew and cause it to bleed afresh. But dear sister I sympathize with you and can mingle my tears with yours. The thing I feared has come up on us, dear Willie is gone...” Fine condition. An excellent letter group from this hard-fought Pennsylvania regiment, with good condolence letters. (22 items) The 35th, the 6th of the reserves, composed of men from all parts of the state, was ordered with the Kane rifles to Maryland, then to Greencastle, Pa., Washington and Tennallytown. It was mustered it at Washington for three years on July 27, and at Tennally-town was assigned to the 3d brigade of the reserve corps. This brigade won the brilliant victory at Dranesville in December and passed an uneventful winter in camp near Langley. It took part in the strategic movements on the Peninsula in the spring of 1862 and was actively engaged at the second Bull Run, South mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, where the losses of the 35th were severe.
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