Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A good war-date Union musician's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Joseph Atwater Hall, Band, 5th Conn. Vols., "5th Regt. Conn. Vols., camp near Williamsport, Md., June 3, 1862" to his brother Pvt. Julius Hall who had recently enlisted in Company K of the 1st California Vols., in part: "…we have had some pretty tough times since I wrote you before…while in the service we have marched a distance of 800 miles…we crossed the river into Va. at this place the 3rd of April and immediately proceeded down the Valley of the Shenandoah…we are in Gen. Banks Division which at the time amounted to 15 to 20 thousand…we drove Gen. [Stonewall] Jackson's…force before us to the end of the Valley…Sec. Stanton withdrew part of his command leaving Banks with only 5,000 infantry. On morning we recd. news that Jackson had been reinforced and was going to make an attack. We struck tents in the night and began our retreat. We kept falling back until we arrived at a place…below Strasburg when it was found Jackson and Gen. Ewell were in our rear. We immediately fell back to Winchester where we took position ready to fall into line of battle…our pickets were firing all night and in the morning (Sunday) the ball opened…by a battery throwing shells into our camp. Soon all the batteries were engaged…the shell burst around us on every side. Soon the rebels began to advance upon our extreme left which position was held by the 5th Ct. A Georgia regt advance[d] over there and when near enough our Col. gave the order to fire which was obeyed…our regt. knocked over 150 of them. They immediately fell back and just at that time the right wing was driven back with orders to retreat…our loss was considerable…the rebels intended to bag the whole of us. As their force was 30,000 and ours but 5,000 we fell back to Williamsport…two of the band were taken prisoners…when we were retreating through Winchester the citizens fired upon us from the buildings and the boys say if they ever get back there they will leave it in ashes…news came that McClellan had a battle at Richmond…when we retreated the rebels got pretty close upon we and…the bullets whistled past my head in good earnest. When I was crossing a field about one mile from W.[inchester] a shell burst within a few feet of me throwing the sand etc in my face…I made some tall time for a piece of woods…the duty of a band in…action is…carrying off the wounded…news has come in that Fremont has followed up Jackson and had an engagement taking 27,000 prisoners…two of the Conn. Regts are at Port Royal and…they made an attack upon Fort Pulaski and succeeded in capturing it…one of the CT regts occupies the Ft. the one most of the Wall.[ingford] boys are in [the 7th Conn.]…". Near fine.
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