Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A rare war-date Confederate soldier's battle letter, 5pp. 4to., written by "Will" a member of Co. B, 21st Georgia Vols., most likely Lt. thomas W. Hooper, "Camp 5 miles from Winchester, [Va.], May 26, 1862" to his mother concerning the battles of Front Royal and Winchester, reading, in small part: "…we have been moving all the time. We have whipped the Yanks for three days & run them 40 miles…we moved…to Mount Jackson…from there to Front Royal…on the 23rd…the enemy was reported to be 4 thousand strong at this place. The Louisiana Brigade & the 1st Maryland Reg was sent forward to attack them. We were held in reserve. As our men advanced the enemy broke & run. Ours pursued when the 1st Maryland on both side were engaged but our boys…caught 90 of them & our cavalry came up & captured the whole Reg. officers & all…we had but one…killed…of the 7th La…one of our cavalry companies charged about to hundred of the enemy who were behind a stone house & lost ten men & the quartermaster of the La. Brig who joined in the charge. The loss of the enemy was about 50 killed & a great nu[mber] wounded. We pursued them until dark…we were tired & hungry…on the morn of the 24 we started on the road for Winchester (Trimble's Brigade) while [Stonewall] Jackson took his & the rest of Ewells men went to Strausburg. We went in 9 miles of Winchester & then waited to learn the result of Jacksons attack which we could here very distinctly. While waiting several squads of Yank…came in under a white flag & gave themselves up…about 4 o clock a Courier came in saying Jackson had whipped the enemy & taken 400 prisoners & for us to march toward Winchester as the enemy had fallen back to that place…our company was sent to stand picket. We could hear Jackson pursuing them all night…at sun up we started double quick for town. Our Brigade is composed of the 16 Miss-15 Alaba & 21 N. C. & 21 Ga. The North C. was in advance & then 21 Ga next & the others were held in reserve. We marched up under fire of the enemy's artillery. The N. C. was marching at double quick in full view of us up to a stone house when they came in about 50 yards…a reg of Yankees rose up & fired a heavy fire into them…the stood their ground & charged them who fled…they were met by three Yank Reg & compelled to fall back after loosing their Col. & Lieut. Col. both bad[ly] wounded…we came at double quick…when a battery opened on us…bomb shells…came so fast…there was no use trying to dodge them…[2nd Lt.] Green [B.] Butler fell wounded on the side of the head by a bombshell. Our sergeant…fell shot through the head & 4 other wounded, all these from sharpshooters…I…took my gun & run up to the head of the Reg & found a bridge across a mill pond & hollered to the front of the erg to come that way as it was the best way to cross. I ran about 100 yards up to the Yankees…I can not tell the number of killed on either side…our erg lost 18 or 20 men wounded & killed. Sergeant [Eli] Isbel[l] from our company was killed & & Green & 5 others wounded…we take a large amount of commissary & clothing. Our boys have nearly all got a Yankee suit…John Harrison…was very sick in a house between Stausburg & Gordonsville…". VG
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