Raynors HCA 2017-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017
A Union soldier’s letter writtem by Theodre May who enlisted on 8/12/1861 at Troy, NY as a private into "E" Co. NY 2nd Cavalry. He died on 2/11/1863. the 10 page letter is datelined Washington, Sept. 8 ‘62. In part, “What I have seen and passed through during the last 4 weeks I will not attempt to describe. I positively do not believe we have had our horses unsaddled more than three days during this whole period. When concentrated we have had to picket and reconnoiter for the whole army line – sometimes 20 miles in extent, as on the Rappahannock. When retreating we have been rear guard; our regt. the rear of all. When I say we I mean Pope’s whole cavalry force – 11 regts. Being in the rear has brought our regt. in the contact with the enemy oftener than any of the others. You say you saw an account of our skirmish with the Rebs the other side of the Rappahannock. We were 8 hours retreating six miles, fighting every inch of the way. Our regt. alone charged and drove a whole brigade of Rebel cavalry three times. It is a wonder we were not all killed. We only lost about 40.... The whole regt. escaped annihilation by firing in a hollow, for a volley from a whole brigade passed over our heads within 2 feet of us.... Saturday we were out-generaled and fairly whipped. Our retreat, called in the papers “falling back” to Centerville, came very near being a second Bull Run “skedaddle.” It would have been had it not been for our own cavalry. Our squadron were supporting a battery of great importance on top of a hill commanding the whole field. Three Rebel batteries were playing into ours within a quarter of a mile. The infantry all ran away, leaving us to support the battery. No one ever before heard of cavalry doing such business. When they had deserted us, we were ordered to leave the battery head off the infantry, deploying as skirmishers and drive them back to face the enemy. But it was to no avail…. King’s Division fought nobly both days, and did not leave the field until driven off at the point of the bayonet. They did the hardest fighting done by any division during the whole week. You can form no idea of the way shell, grape, and canister hissed through the air on Saturday. It was terrific, I can tell you. ... We are now lying 4 miles from Washington under the guns of our forts… I would not be surprised if they captured Washington within a week, and Baltimore too. I believe they have a force of 300,000 operating against us; 100,000 more than we have....”
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