2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
A Union officer's 1pp. letter written by James Clay Rice who enlisted on 5/10/1861 at New York City, NY as a 1st Lieutenant and on 5/28/1861 was commissioned into "B" Co. NY 39th Infantry . He was promoted Lt Colonel 9/13/1861 (As of 44th NY Inf), Colonel 7/4/1862, and Brig-General 8/23/1863. Brig-General Rice was Killed on 5/10/1864 at Laurel Hill, VA. Datelined, Washington July 22, 1861, Monday Morning. In large part, "A severe battle has taken place and after a day's hard fighting we were obliged to retreat before double our numbers, last evening, thirty-five miles by forced march, to save ourselves from capture. The battle commenced at 9:00 in the morning yesterday and lasted till seven in the evening. I saw the whole of it and I think history can scarcely furnish its equal in severity. Thousands were killed on both sides. We carried the battle twice, during the day, but the enemy received reinforcements in great numbers and at last forced us to retreat in great confusion. Our Brigade caused the retreat, but I became so exhausted at Fairfax ten miles this side of the battle, that I road to Washington, having had scarcely any food or sleep." Then at the top Rice squeezes in more, "We might have gained the battle had we had any good general Commanding Officers. The men fought splendidly although exhausted by the march. Some regiments lost more than half of their commissioned officers. The enemy lost severely ..." The lower right corner lacks paper causing the loss of four words.
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