2nd South Carolina Cavalry Gettysburg Campaign Letter

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A great war-date Confederate officer's battle letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Capt. Leonard Williams, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, "Camp near Culpeper, Va., July 29, 1863", on the Gettysburg Campaign, in part: "After a vigorous campaign of 40 days into the State of Pa. & Md. we find ourselves again in the camps from which we started. We reached here yesterday evening…today ourselves & horses are resting…the cavalry has done more work & fighting…than other branch of the service…on the 23rd I was separated from the regt. to get my own & other horses shod…after the fight at Upperville…the brigade went back towards Warrenton & crossed the river near Washington & took a large train of wagons & sutler stores…after crossing the river at Williamsport I had command of over 300 men from Hampton's brigade & guarded the advance train of 30 wagons…till we reached Chambersburg Pa. which was a work of very great anxiety to me as the ordinance was indispensable & two regiments of Yankee cavalry were reported to be advancing to attack them. At Chambersburg I was superseded…by Maj. Screven…we proceeded to Fayetteville & through Gettysburg when the bloodiest fight of the war was made. It lasted 3 days. We were on the right wing when I had content employment in scouting, picketing & fighting-in the mean time our brigade was on the left & had two day's fight & was victorious; on the right on the 3rd day the enemy endeavored to flank us. Capt. Nesbit of the 1st Regt. & myself each with about 50 men were dismounted with rifles & opposed them & held them in check until a regiment of infantry came to our relief. We led their sharp shooters into the woods…they succeeded in killing & capturing over two hundred of them…I took a position on the right on a hill when I could see the Yankees advancing which they did at a double quick, but were soon hurled back in rapid flight. The Yankee army evacuated his position several hours before Genl. Lee did. Our army than fell back to Hagerstown Md. and offered him battle for 3 days-which he declined. The cavalry were engaged all the time & drew them on to within 3/4 of a mile of Genl. Lee's lines. The campaign in Pa. though not a success did not result disastrously. the enemy were severely punished & lost much more heavily then we. Our army was withdrawn across the river & over the mountains without any loss. Our loss in killed, wounded & prisoners are put down at 20,000. The enemy at 40,000…I regret our failure to rout & distort Hooker's army, In that event we could have occupied the state of Pa & supplied our army with everything. It is a very fine farming country…the population are mostly dutch & many of them spoke no other language. They seem to be a thrifty sort of people. They live in good houses mostly brick & rock…the female inmates [appear] barefooted & carelessly dressed…I do not know whether our cause has been improved any by the invasion. James was wounded…& had to suffer amputation of his foot & was left in the hands of the enemy…his wound was very severe…I gave my consent to Ned's [his slave] marrying with the condition he was to stay from home but 2 nights in the week…the fall of Vicksburg & Port Hudson& the failure of our army to occupy Pa. has emboldened the Yankees…& will perhaps enable them to recruit their armies without difficulty. There is nothing however in these misfortunes to dishearten us. Our prospect is gloomy enough but I have an abiding faith that all will be well…God in his wisdom hath chastised us enough…I regret to tell you that many of our soldiers behaved badly in Pa. They copied after the Yankees plundered & destroyed private property…I hoped our men would have acted honorably…loss of sleep & labor has reduced me about 10 Ibs…". Also included is the original transmittal cover. VG

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