Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A great war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 7pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. John Wesley Given (1816-1870) of Sharpsburg, PA who served as a private and wagoner in the 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry, "Harrison Landing [Va.], July 9, 1862", in part: "…I have seen…the landing & surrounding lands…famous for having originally belonged to the parents of the Hero of Tipicanoe. Our teams…are camped near the river…our forces extend back 4 or 5 miles…reinforcements are arriving daily…of our retreat & its terrific battle…many bled & died…the Rebels lost two to our one & one Tuesday the 1st inst. [Malvern Hill] they must have lost 4 or 5 to our one. I had a full view of this battle…where the fiercest fighting took place. I left discouraged…to see our lines give back gradually…the poor rebels it brought them in range of one of our batteries placed at a point by Genl. Kearney to give them a cross fire…column after column, as they advanced. were mowed down after which the invisible Irish Brigade marched up in good order & then the charge. Those who had escaped our storm of grape & canister had…to flee for life before our victorious forces. The scene…was truly sublime. The enemy were driven until the report of artillery could scarily be heard…by midnight we were ordered to get ready to move at once & before daylight we were continuing our retreat…8 or 9 miles…from the crowded state of the roads it took us 36 hours to accomplish the distance. It commenced to rain on the morning of the 2nd…the roads in places became almost impassible…many threw out their load[s], some unhitched & left load & wagon…the 63 Regt being part of the rear guard brought in several teams…I [brought]…in all safe expect a few boxes of ammunition deposited in a mud hole by our ordinance officer…our northern traitors viz.; speculating congressmen & their friends & the ranting Abolitionists are chargeable with our late misfortune…a day of reckoning awaits them…Genl. Jameson [is] sick…[with] typhoid fever. He will be greatly missed by his men…& sadly lamented if taken from them…he is one of that class of men that has but few equals…". Sadly, General Charles D. Jameson died of Typhoid Fever at his home Oldtown, Maine on Nov. 6, 1862. VG.
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