Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 10pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., Mitchell's Ford, Oct. 17, 1863," in part: "…we had stopped for the night after crossing the Rappahannock. We lay there all day the 12th…the rest of the corps went back to Rapahhannock Station. Early on the morning of the 13th they returned but did not halt passing on "en-route" to Alexandria, leaving our brigade to guard the wagon train…in the afternoon the 125th and 126th were deployed to act as flankers to prevent a surprise…we halted for the night. I was detailed for picket…no fires being allow…I was forced to make a supper of hard tack without any coffee. The next morning the column was put in motion…I overtook the Regt before they had gone a mile. I had not been without eh Co. ten minutes before we were attacked in the rear by the Rebel cavalry. It was very foggy and we could not see thirty rods…almost simultaneously they opened on the head of the column with a battery planted in a piece of woods on the road…the 125th, 126th and 111th were immediately deployed as skirmishers and ordered to advance on them. They opened a pretty sharp musketry fire on us, but we steadily advanced and drove them from the hill. They proved to be a small force of Stuart's Cavalry who had managed to get between us and the other corps. They succeeded in getting off with their volley but they took several empty saddles with them. There was no one killed in Co. G. Our Orderly Sergt. S. Hughes was severely wounded in the thigh. E. Havens very slightly same place. A. Ralph lost his right fore finger. J. Hooper who was in our Co. was wounded in the arm how bad I am unable to say…Co. I has been broken up and a part of them assigned to our Co. Co. A lost two men killed, Co. F two men killed. The loss of the other companies I do not know. We continued to advance as skirmishers for three or four miles until we came up with the 5th Corps…passed Gen. Meade's Head Quarters…the whole Corps halted to allow the train to get ahead. The 126th beware thrown out as pickets…we started on again the Second Division taking the advance. The Third following and the First bringing up the rear…following the line of the Orange & Alexandria RR…when we hear cannonading in the rear, another mile and we heard it in advance…more and more frequent…a little farther and the musketry commenced…we knew that the 2nd Corps had been attacked again…by a large force. We were marching parallel with the R. R. and about 30 rods from it we gained a slight rise of ground which brought us in sight of the Johnnys in line of battle. Without stopping to "front" and "right dress" Gen. Owen gave the order "by the left flank, march", double quick to the railroad. He had been ordered to take possession of the R. R.and hold it. They were pouring a terrible fire into us and for a second we wavered…Capt. [Robert S.] Seabury [MWIA Wilderness, Va., 5/5/64 Adjutant Gen. on Gen. Owen's staff rode to the front and cried "forward boys". We rushed forward and gained the R. R. Here we were under cover as the r. r. runs through a deep cut. I dropped down into it so exhausted that I could hardly stir. I climbed up the bank and fired…dropped down again to load. I was so tired it took me full five minutes to do it the first time…John Stewart was dangerously wounded, a bullet passing through his body just below the pit of the stomach. This, I believe, was the only casualty in Co. G. The Johnnys were driven back with heavy loss in killed and prisoners and five pieces of artillery. Skirmishing and artillery firing was kept up until after dark…we were ordered on the bank and lay there on our faces. Our batteries were planted but a few oases in our rear and the way the rebel shell and our own flew over us was grand but not exceedingly comfortable. After the artillery firing ceased the groans and cry of the wounded took its place rendering our position (to me) still more uncomfortable. Notwithstanding, I fell asleep…one of the boys woke me and told me to fall in and make no noise…we muffled our cups and other fixins so that they would make no noise and left the place to the Rebels. We reached this place at three…next morning (the 15th)…the loss of our Regt during the entire day was seven killed and thirty five wounded…[Oct. 18]…about two in the afternoon of the 15th the Rebs advanced down to the creek (Bull Run) and commenced skirmishing. We had but just got our skirmishers placed when they attacked us. Our division lay back from the creek…our Regt lay closed in mass. We could see them planting a battery on the crest of a hill between Blackburn's [Ford] and this ford. They opened it and played away for awhile without eliciting any response…then they opened another from a position out of our sight. Now a battery opened from Union Mills…soon after the First Rhode Island (A) battery, which we always support, opened on the one which was in sight…the first shot struck right in among them. The next followed it and we could plainly hear them order "draw off that battery". The skirmishing was kept up until nearly dark…we have seen nothing of them since. We have heard the cavalry fighting them off on their flank…after daylight on the 16th our Regt went out on the skirmish line…yesterday afternoon Col. Bull read a General order issued by Gen. Meade congratulating the 2nd Corps on the manner in which they covered the retreat stating that they were attacked while marching by the flank and after a spirited contest repulsed the enemy, capturing five guns and four hundred and fifty prisoners…George Stoars Youngs."
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