Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
Wiley Writes OnThe Battle of South Mountain A nice war-date Union officer's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Capt. Henry A. Wiley, Co. B, 104th New York Vols., "Cardyville, Maryland, Sept. 16, 1862", describing the battle of Turner's Gap, South Mountain and their attack upon Confederate General Robert Rode's Alabamians, in part: "When I wrote you last I told you there was a large rebel force at Frederick. [Stonewall] Jackson's main force left there one week ago…for Middletown and…towards the Potomac…he was hotly pursued by our troops from place to place until Sunday when he made a stand on a mountain about 3 miles from Boonsborough…there was cannonading all day…Saturday night we arrived at Frederick…where we found King's Division. We encamped about 2 miles outside the city. next morning we were ordered…to march at 5 am…McCall's Division in the advance. we marched most all day…and could hear the cannonading from early in the morning until we come is sight and then we went three miles off…our brigade was ordered off to the right to relieve a brigade of McCall's…we went…up the mountain…a battery threw some shells and solid shot at us…as we were going up the mountain I looked off to the left [towards Fox' Gap]…and could see a brigade of our men [Willcox's brigade] charging a rebel battery [which they overran including driving G. T Anderson's troops]. I could see them as they marched up between the battery and [in front of] our men was a cornfield. When our men got in the cornfield they marched nearly up to the battery before they were discovered. The rebels turned their pieces on them, but it was no use. Our men were to near and such a fire of musketry as was fired on them can hardly be described…then our men cheered. They killed all the horses and captured the battery. About this time our brigade charged up the mountain on a [rebel] brigade composed mostly of Alabama troops. As we charged we cheered tremendously and away the rebels went, pell mell down the mountain…our boys firing on them as they run. Our reg. lost no men but our Color Sergt. [Marshall J. Rogers] was wounded. Our brigade had several killed and wounded. Our regiment were in the rear…it was now dusk, but they kept up the fire till about nine o'clock. They retreated all night. We lay on our arms all night…our cavalry followed them up and come on their rear guard about 2 miles beyond Boonsborough. We could hear and see the cannonading…it is said that the rebels are in force at Harpers Ferry. The bugle has just sounded and we shall have to move…". VG
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