Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A rare 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, "Harrison Landing [Va.], July 11, 1862", in part: "…how long we may remain here we cant tell. Our late disaster…must prolong the war & perhaps lead to…foreign interference…Genl. McClellan managed his retreat in a masterly manner…many of these noble men fell…the team I drove from Savage Station here was loaded with ammunition & on Tuesday the 1st inst. I was sent to our men to supply them which afforded me an opportunity of witnessing…the fieriest battle of the Peninsular [Malvern Hill, but] certain[ly] the most disastrous to the rebels. From a hill in rear of our lines. I had a view of about two miles of the battle lines. The artillery kept up firing pretty constant until about 4 o'clock p. m. when the rebel infantry advanced on our lines…the scene became terrific for two hours…our men had already gone back…at one point so as to bring the enemy in range of a battery of ours planted so as to give them a cross fire…they were literally mowed down by columns after which the Famous Irish Brigade were marched from behind a strip of woods & commenced the charge…in a short time the persued…were hid from our view by a cloud of dust. The report of light arms was heard no more…Col. [Alexander] Hays told me he saw the dead rebels lay 4 deep that night. Next morning…we resumed the skedaddle through torrents of rains…we had mud to the knees & water to the wagon bed…thousands of sick men are suffering here for want of proper medicines. Dr. Whitzell told me…that he could do little for our sick for want of medicines…[the] Sanitary Commission have been sent…the published reports of the sanitary Department…quite a number that…straggled off…have since come in. Still the 63rd & many other Regts are greatly reduced…hundreds of sick & debilitated are kept here an encumbrance to the army…finally to die…Lieut. Maynard was in Sharpsburg recruiting for the 63rd. Tell him to bring some young harness maker…to take my place in Company B…".
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