Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
The letters of Fred Fleet were published in 1962, in the book “Green Mount: A Virginia Plantation Family During the Civil War”. This letter is appears on page 144-146 of that book. The Confederate soldier’s letter is written and signed by Alexander F. Fleet who on 6/13/1861 he mustered into "I" Co. VA 26th Infantry, hospitalized 6/22/1864 Richmond, VA Hospl 4 (Wound left side and right leg). The legal size 2pp. letter is datelined Camp near Chaffins Bluff, Thursday morng. July 3rd, 1862. In part, “Just before we halted, Pres Davis rode up and I saw him & Gen. Holmes in consultation. He is a little man with a very small head, dressed in citizens clothes. I never would of taken him for our President. ... We... marched two or three miles down towards the river, right to Allen’s farm (Curl’s Neck) where we could see the Gunboats some mile or two off. Two batteries of Artillery & a large force of Cavalry had gone on before us & by the time we reached this place, the Yankees had opened upon them with a land battery & their gunboats. They immediately turned around & came up the road as fast as they could. The enemy, seeing the dust that they made as they passed by us, drawn up on one side of the road, commenced shelling vigorously all about us. I felt very calm, altho’ the shells were bursting all around us. The batteries passed by in great confusion, some 3 pieces being left & the loose horses rushed by, some wounded and seeming mad. One Caisson was turned over right by us, & if it had exploded we would all have been killed. The Cavalry made a perfect stampede & in a short time all had passed by. ... One of the N.C. Regts. exposed to the same fire that we were, turned around & ran… We spent the night in a clover field, from which we could hear the sound of small arms whistling incessantly some 2 or 3 miles off. All night Magruder’s forces passed us going on to the field. ... Some 150 Yankee prisoners were brought to us… They did not seem at all dispirited, but glad that they were taken prisoners… We… were drawn up in line of battle in the woods… We remained until Gen. Wise rode up & said to Col. Page, ‘Col. form your regt. in line of battle, the 46th on your left, march through the woods till you get to the fence, mount it & advance in double quick time across the field.’… We could hear the most terrible fire I ever heard. Our men charged a battery again & again, but were repulsed as often as they took it…. Yesterday we were out in the rain all day & last night… Thus after 6 days hard fighting, we have driven them entirely off, have taken 10,000 prisoners – two Major Generals & two Brigadiers.
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