Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
War-date Union soldier's Mine Run Campaign letter, 14pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., Milton Hills, Va., Dec. 3, 1863, in part: "…we broke camp here at daylight on the 26th and crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford…marched about 3 miles and halted to rest. Here we got the order "Load at will, load." After loading we started on again, marched about a mile on double quick when skirmishing was heard close in front. We drew up in line of battle at a place called Locust Grove, by some called Robinson's Tavern. It was a hill with woods on both sides of the turnpike. We were on the left of the road. Co. C of our Regt was deployed as skirmishers…we lay about an hour and got orders to throw up a barricade of rails which we soon did. As sonar our batteries got in position they commenced shelling the Johnnys and although they continued to do so…they got no more answer from them. Heavy cannonading was heard to the right and left of us during the day. The skirmishing was kept up all day…Cos. I. and G was detailed to go on the skirmish line and relieve the Cos. from our Regt. The Col. led us out and had some difficult in finding our part of the line. He left us standing in the woods while he went to look for it. While he was gone the Johnnys caught sight of us and sent a volley after us but they all went over. We got on the ground pretty lively. We got down on the line just at dark and lay there shivering…until daylight when we were relieved by the 1st Corps…two of our boys went out in advance…to get some rails for…protection…both got hold of the same rail…the Johnnys fired into them, one of the bullets striking the rail. Itv was too hot for them to hold so they dropped it…we were relieved…by the 1st Corps…had just barely time to make coffee when we were ordered to fall in. The whole Corps…then advanced in three lines on their position…we found the trenches they had dug, but no rebus. We advanced nearly a mile farther…upon gaining the top of a hill we saw them all drawn up in line of battle…our…batteries got in position and opened on them. They returned the compliment …as usual they all went over…the…mist…grew so thick that nothing could be seen for two or three hours…our batteries threw up earthworks…other batteries and troops were got in position. The time was employed by the rebels in throwing up earthworks along their while lines…before dark our Regt was detailed to take the skirmish line…Cos. I. and G. were detached and marched…to a house…this was a large plantation owned by a Mr. Rowe. There was several large barns, a tool house, smoke house, doctor's office, negro quarters etc. We were told we might take possession of one of the negro houses…there was a nice fire in the fireplace. We found box of candles hid away, lit five of them…went out in the garden and found some cabbage. From there we could hear the rebs singing an old Methodist hymn…went out to the barn and murdered a hog, skin dhim and had a heavy old meal. One of the boys went to the Dr's office and finding the door locked broke it open. He found some Richmond papers…we were relieved at daylight by the 5th Corps…after going…beyond Locust Grove we turned to the right…about four o'clock skirmishing and cannonading was heard…ahead of us…there was one line of our troops formed in front of us who were engaged in throwing up a barricade. We stacked arms and lay down to rest. We were…on the extreme left of our army…the enemy were throwing a few shells occasionally. We were not allowed to build any fires…no sooner had the fires [been] burring then the Johnnys began shelling us…they did no damage…we were routed out at 3…drew twenty rounds of cartridges, making sixty in all…about daylight started off…the artillery did not move but remained in position it had taken the night previous…we were obliged token walking backward and forward to keep warm…[Dec. 4]…we were informed that it was intended to charge the rebels works. Gen. Hays took the chief bugler of the 39th and…arranged that the orders should be sounded on the bugle…the first call was…"attention," the second "forward" and the third "charge"…the order came to unsling knapsacks and pile them up…leaving one man from each Co. to guard them. This looked like work…and indicated a most desperate struggle. Another hour…it was rumored that the charge had been given up [and] that Gen. Warren had telegraphed Gen. Meade that he could make the charge but that….there would be no 2nd A. C…they had felled trees in every shape forming an imprenatrable abatis…they could have slaughtered us at their leisure. After awhile permission was given us to build fires…the charge had been abandoned…orders came to pile every rail…on the fire and fall in…marched back to the position we occupied the night previous…Col. Baird sent our Co. in the woods…and not shoot anybody if we could help it…we managed to pass the night comfortably…it is rumored that Hooker is ordered back to command of this army (I enclose the paragraph). [Included with the lot] I hope it is untrue. The Tribune says, "there is yet time to make a vigorous campaign against Lee and relieve the prisoners at Richmond. I only wish that the editors…had to lay on the skirmish line…with a dozen sharpshooters in front of them…we were ordered to pack up and be ready to move at half-past eight…the woods on both sides…was filled with men who would fall out and in spit of the cold go to sleep. I was never so tired and sleepy…we recrossed the Rapidan at Culpeper [near] Mine Ford about half an hour after sunrise. Marched about a mile from the river…when the 3 hours were up…started on again…went into our old stockades…cannonading has just commenced of to the right and we may move at any moment. My Thanksgiving dinner was coffee and hard tack…George S. Youngs". The original stamped transmittal cover (and newspaper clipping) is included. VG
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