2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Autograph Letter Signed of G.H. Riley of a South Carolina unit, 4p. quarto, Camp near Richmond, Anderson’s Brigade, June 26, 1862, and reads in part: “...a pretty fierece engagement on our left...11am one reserve force was brought into action...the enemy is in total confusion. Our Genls did not pursue them along the original lines. A fierece artillery engagment upon our left was kept up throughout the day. I think the enemy has endured the worst. We could have pressed them out and had a victory as complete as Seven Pines. It seems to have been the plot of our leaders to draw the enemy out which they failed to do. We fully anticipated that today would see the fate of Richmond judged upon this busy presentation...at last we retired for the night....Heavy firing is still being heard farther upon our left, that in which our Regiment is engaged. It is rumored that our forces were ordered ther to protect Jackson while crossing the stream in order to attack McClellan’s rear....Someone came to report that McClellan made a speach to his men yesterday that he was going to take Richmond - that plan was disconnected by our movements. There was no South Carolina unit in the fight yesterday. The First Louisiana acted most bravely. It helped check at one time seven Yankee Regts - surprised them and cut them off until reinforcements came to their assistance. I look for our Regt. to return to quarters tonight...the firing was intense both in rapidity and in volume...you could plainly see the flash from the explosion of an occassional bomb...it blazed like wired lightning across the horizon...our gallant troops were getting the better of it as we could distinguish the enemy from our own troops...it opened this morning as fierce as ever and grew more and more indistinct until you could only hear an occasional report from guns fo the highest caliber in the direction of Yorktown. News has just entered camp that McClellan’s army is divided and that Old Stonewall came near to caging that old cooper in his den. Jackson is in hot pursuit, close upon the heels of the routed enemy and will intercept that portion of the army on this side undetected....” More. Ink is light, but comes with transcription. VG.
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