Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. John Wesley Given (1816-1870) of Sharpsburg, PA who served as a private and wagoner in the 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry, "Bottom Bridge, [Va.], June 1, 1862", in part: "…the battle having opened our brigade was hurried out some 9 miles to the scene of action…about dark some of the wounded returned to camp. John Hays was the first of Co. B with a slight wound in the wrist. Myself & some others started towards the scene of suffering & death hoping to be able to afford some assistance or relief to the suffering…we entered a large mansion used as a hospital…a familiar voice uttered my name…on the floor sat…John Moyle. His face covered with a happy smile…he had recd a buck shot in the right wrist. There being one surgeon there the prospect of getting his services was poor…there were many other worse cases waiting…I took him to camp where we dressed it with cold water & bandages…after breakfast he started in quest of a doctor…Lieut. Maynard came in…wounded in the left shoulder by a minnie ball…Andrew Ryan had one finger shot off. Wm. Clark was struck on the side of the neck by a piece of a shell so as to knock him senseless for some time…Wm. Draher [WIA Spotsylvania, 5/10/64] is also rerouted wounded…Genl. Jamison had two horses killed under him. Coln. [Alexander] Hays [future brevet major general, KIA Wilderness, 5/05/64] had one killed & one wounded. Lieut. Col. Morgan is dangerously wounded. Capt. Kirkwood [WIA 2nd Bull Run & MWIA Chancellorsville] has command of the Regt…the rebels were driven back yesterday. Sharp fighting is heard this morning…Lieut. Maynard [WIA Kelly's Ford, 11/7/63] started to go to his mother's yesterday…Wm. Clark…had his canteen, haversack shot off…on Saturday after his 60 rounds of cartridges were done. He took a supply from a dead man & fired some 15 more. Others did the same when their ammunition run out…they could not get at our dead & wounded on the field till yesterday. Some of the wounded were still alive …a great deal of hard fighting [is] to be done yet before we enter Richmond…". VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.