Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A great siege of Yorktown Confederate soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Joseph P. Jones [KIA Drewry's Bluff, Va., 5/16/64], Co. H, 24th Virginia Infantry, "Camp near Yorktown, [Va.], April 21, 1862," in part: "…the regiment has not been in camp for ten days…a soldier's life is a hard old life…there has been here…several engagements which resulted in the loss of about one killed and wounded on our side. The loss of the Yankees is supposed to be from 500 to 1000. Our regiment has been in one skirmish…that has been about a week ago. We had to drive them from a peach orchard where they had secreted themselves near Yorktown and would fire on our provision wagons when they went after provisions. The work with the loss of one man and he was not killed but very badly wounded that was Capt. [Joseph A.] Hambrick. I can not describe my feeling on that occasion…I can tell you one thing I felt like shooting…after we accomplished our design Genl. Early congratulated us very much, said we acted most nobly…it will not exceed one week before the hardest fought battle…on Southern soil will come off. There is more men here than I ever expected to see. The whole Potomac army is here, Yankees and all. I can stand where our regiment is stationed and see just as many Yankees as I want to. I can see regiment after regiment on dress parade, see their artillery, see Burnside['s] fleet laying of[f] from Yorktown…out about five miles. They keep…throwing bombs, shells at us. Our batteries respond to them occasionally…if I should be so fortunate as to not be killed in the battle I will give you a short history of my scenes…".
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