Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
A good war-date Union officer's battle letter, 10pp. 8vo., written by 1st Lt. Maurice Leyden, [POW Darbytown Road, Va., 10/07/64, confined Libby Prison & Salisbury, N. C.], Co. B, 3rd New York Cavalry, "Bivouac near Point of Rocks, Va., May 31, 1864", in part: "…when I was writing you last…I mentioned that aright was then going on at our right…they did give me an invitation to fall in my company…the fight did not amount to much after all. A shell came over from the rebus killing one man and wounding six men. The line of earth works which our division of cavalry have to hold are about three miles in length. The first brigade composed of the 3d N. Y. Cav. and the 1st D. C. Cavalry, commanded by Col. Mix have the right…Gen. Kautz has now attached to his command the 1st N. Y. Mounted Rifles-the 1st and 2nd US Colored Cavary. Each regiment and each company have a certain proportion of the works to hold. They are bivouacked in rear of and about two rods from the edge of the ditch opposite their allotted place…we have several batteries of artillery with us. They are stationed at the most important positions along the line-one on the right and left of our brigade. I can see [them]…throwing shell at the enemy who are in plain sight…is so common an…occurrence that we think nothing of it…it is nothing unusual for these batteries to play on to each other for hours…we had a right smart fit yesterday afternoon. The enemy opened the ball…it resulted in their being driven back and one of their guns broken to pieces by a solid shell form one of ours…our horses are about two miles from here at Point of Rocks, a landing on the Appomattox River. A detail…of one man to ten horses in charge of them. we are only dismounted temporally. The exigences of the service require it and to let our horses recruit from the very severe effects on them of our two last raids…as we have no marching to do and can remain behind brestworks-its a good idea to have something before you to stop bullets-something cavalry men do not usually have. I could hear the bands of the rebus last evening playing Dixie. Since fighting was going on across the James River…we could hear the cannonading all day. It has just commenced again this morning 7 1/2 oclock-quite too early. I think they should wait until 9…then have an hour at noon for rest, refreshments etc. Quit for the day at 5 oc. P. M…some of our men went in to a house and an was usual the case, the occupants had gone to the woods when they saw us coming. The first thing looked for was any paper that might give us valuable information. In the search some man found a package of letters which proved to be love letters and in fact all the correspondence that might have passed between the man and his wife…as soon as this gentleman…discovered what they were. He at once burned them to prevent others who might get them fro reading that which they had no right to…yours forever, Maurice". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG
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