Raynors HCA 2017-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. William Crawford, Co. B, 73rd Penn. Vols. [WIA Chancellorsville 5/02/63 & POW MIssionary Ridge, Tenn., 11/25/63], Strasburg, [Va.], June 26, 1862, in part: "…we had one fight at Franklin [West Virginia] on May 22nd and repulsing the enemy to a retreat [then] another march after [Stonewall] Jackson . We turned back on May 25th in pursuit …caught hold of him again near Strasburg and gave him a whipping, repulsed him again and drove him clean up to Port Republic and there we had it hot and heavy for several hours repulsing him…we turned back to Strasburg and we have now joined Genl. Siegel['s] Division. Blenker has nothing to do with us now…this last march…was a hard one for us under a hot boiling sun marching at 23 and 24 miles a day…our loss was very heavy. On both sides there is some reports that Jackson is reinforced and that he is laying back for us. [At the time this letter was written Jackson was attacking McClellan at Mechanicsville near Richmond.] Well I suppose when we get a good rest we will give him another chase round the mountains and valleys. Jackson is very smart but he will never stand and fight like a man, but will kill his men in running. When we chased him to Port Republic his men had to throw away their blankets, guns, etc and be taken prisoners. We had 5 hundred and 50 of them and we lost one of our members after the battle [who was] taken prisoner. It is laughable …to see…both armies…chase each other round the mountains…I am getting tired of such work…on May 28th we waded two of the south branches of the Potomac. The water was running very swiftly. It take us up to the waist…we are all anxious to see the battles at Richmond…I hope that peace will soon come again…we have gone through many hard and trying scenes this past few months in skirmishing with the enemy, the boom, shells, & cannon balls flying over our heads, not knowing the time our end is up therefore it is our duty to ask an interest in all your prayers public and private that God will enable us to stand firm in the last of our life not fearing the shell nor ball but trusting in him who is the God of battles…Wm. C. Crawford…care of Capt. Hasbett, Com. B, 73d regt P. V. Col. Koltes in Gen. Segal Division, Starsburg via Fremont's Mountain department…". Light soiling, else VG.
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