Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A great war-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Capt. Henry A. Wiley, Co. B, 104th New York Vols., "Fort Monroe, Va., Sunday morning, May 15, 1864" concerning his capture at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 8, 1864 and his subsequent recapture by Union cavalry the following week, in part: "I am happy to inform you that I am well at the present time. I was captured together with Sergt. J. P. Curtis, I McFailand, J. B. Fisher of my company on Sunday morning one week ago while I was making a charge on Longstreet's Corps near Spotsylvania C. H. My company was the only one from our Regt that was engaged in the 2nd charge…being cut off from our Regt. while advancing through the woods. I had one man killed from my company [he then names all his casualties]…all the Springwater boys were [?] as far as I know or at least they were last Sunday. We were started for Richmond on Monday morning about 350 of us…marched all day and got within half a mile of Beaver Dam Station…all at once we heard one of the guards say that the Yankees were on them…you ought to seen them skedaddle. Our cavalry come up and rescued us, then proceeded to the depot where I had the pleasure of setting fire to some of their cars which were all loaded with stores for Lee's army…we burnt 2 engines and three trains of cars…and destroyed four day's rations for Lee's whole army. All of us who had been rescued went on with the cavalry Richmond or to within 3 miles of the city, planting one gun in the fortifications and firing at the enemy…the whole cavalry corps left Richmond and crossed [??] onto Hoxhall's Landing which is about 8 miles below Fort Darling and today we are on our way back to Washington…I am writing this on board the steamer to Fort Monroe…". VG
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