Raynor HCA 2013-07
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/18/2013
Excellent Confederate officer's war date battle letter written by Major Philip H. Powers, Quartermaster, Stuart's Staff, 4 ½ pp., 4to, with cover lacking stamp, "New Kent County, May 12, 1862," to his wife, a refugee in Staunton, Virginia, reading, in part: "…we have been on the Peninsula. I have written several times and have received one letter from you…Our service has been such for the last month - moving all the time, in the saddle night and day and bivouacking wherever night overtook us…I saw Hite Opie and he told me of your being in Staunton…and of the communication between Richmond and Staunton still being open…Jackson's victory may…clear the Valley of the enemy…I cannot see how you are to manage it, unless the enemy leave the valley road open…I hardly dare return…death every hour, and at every step, my mind sometimes seems to be overwhelmed and I am almost reduced to desperation. Were it not for your beloved image my own wife and the vision of my poor little children I would rush into the thickest of the fight and shut out all the horrors by death. But thanks to an all ruling Providence these dark thoughts are generally dispelled by the hope that I shall yet fold you in my arms…You have heard the particulars of the battle of Williamsburg…the day was terrible…the victory was clearly ours, though the ground did not admit of our profiting much by it. Our loss was very severe, and all our dead, and, I fear many of the wounded left in the field. That night our army withdrew, the Cavalry leaving Williamsburg about sunrise. Our wounded were left…my horse several times sunk so deep in the mud that with great difficulty I could get him out. It reminded me of…Bull Run. Our soldiers having fought all day in a drenching rain were too fatigued to carry their knapsacks and blankets…the road side was strewn with baggage. Many wagons stuck in the mud and were left…several fine pieces of artillery were abandoned…the cavalry covering the retreat, slowly the Enemy followed us afraid to come within striking distance…Here we have expected another battle but the enemy does not come…At New Kent Ct House I saw our commissary draw 20 bushels of corn to parch for his men! They had nothing else. But this was bad management. The Government had provisions in abundance but they were not in reach…" Expected folds, fine condition. Remnants of the Richmond CDS on the cover.
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