Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A good war-date Union Hospital Steward's battle letter, 3 1/2pp. 4to., written by William L. Jackson, 3rd Vermont, Camp near Yorktown, [Virginia], April 18, 1862, in part: "No doubt you have heard there has been a fight here…I am perfectly safe…Tuesday night we received orders to be ready to march in the morning with 2 days rations and a blanket or overcoat. Dr. Janes [commander of Camp Letterman, Gettysburg] ordered me to stay in camp and take charge…[of] 2 or 3 men very sick with the Fever…on arriving near the rebel forts 6 companies were sent out as skirmishers. They crept close up to the rifle pits and picked off a number of the enemy. Only 4 of our skirmishers were wounded…the country here is very woody…most of the rebel works are built in the woods and along the banks of the Warwick Creek. It is marshy near the creek and is flowed by a dam below here. The Brigade was drawn up in the open field near the woods and not far from the creek. About 2 oc Capt. Reed (one of Gen. Brook's aids) rode up and told Col. Hyde to throw the remaining 4 companies across the creek and take the works and to raise a white flag when he got possession. Cos. D, E, F & K formed into line and started through the woods toward the fort. The enemy saw them before they had gone many rods and opened fire…they kept on never faltering till they reached the creek. They found that it was several rods wide and full of dead logs etc…they kept on sheltering themselves behind the trees as much as they could. The creek was waist deep…some got their powder wet…most of them held up their cartridge boxes…after they crossed they charged on the rifle pits. The cowardly rebels ran…they held the rifle pits nearly half an hour…expecting reinforcements. They were ordered to retreat but replied, 'for Gods sake, send more men'. The rebels were picking our men off all the time. Lieut. [Erastus] Buck (Co. D) [WIA Wilderness], Sergt. [Richard] Goodall and 7 men drove a large number of men…out of one rifle pit. They shot away most of their ammunition. The rebels received reinforcements and opened fire on our left…after the repulse of our men the 6th was ordered to cross. They went to the creek but did not cross…many of the 6th were wounded or killed. Gen. Brooks told them 'boys you have fought nobly. You have done enough.' The tears ran down his face as he said this…not a man flinched…the officers…took the muskets of the wounded and fought with the men. Lieut. [Robert] Whittemore was the last to leave the field. He staid behind and emptied his revolver at them. Capt. [Samuel E.] Pingree Co. F received a flesh wound in the thigh and soon after a ball tore open his thumb on the right hand. He walked to camp and had it amputated without a grown. Lieut. [Edward] Chandler Co. F also shot in the thigh & through the right hand. Capt. [Leonard E.] Bennett [WIA Savage Station] was struck by 4 balls, none of them wounded him. One ball passed through his drawers but did not break the skin. A large number of them had their clothes torn by the balls…we had all we could do for some time dressing wounds. The surgeons of the 3rd Brigade were here and did what they could. The men bore their wounds heroically, all saying that 'there were others wounded worse than they…tend to them first.' Co. F had 47 men in the fight. Out of that number 27 were killed & wounded. Over one third of the force engaged were killed or wounded. Our report reads killed 22, wounded 51, missing 9 = 82. Of that number 2 have died and there are others mortally wounded…". Signed with his initials. Near fine.
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