Amazing Battle Letter of Soldier Who Never Returned Home

Amazing Battle Letter of Soldier Who Never Returned Home – Inventory Number: DOC 373

July 24, 1864 Civil War letter with hand-drawn map of fortifications around Petersburg Va. Written by Cyrus L. Witter (1823-1864) of Co. C 20th Michigan Infantry.

"Fortifications before Petersburg... I would like to map our position here so that you would have some idea of our situation ...

I have not shown all the guns nor all the rifle pits on this field but it will give some idea. You see that the first brigade is close to the enemy's works where there is a fort which the enemy cannot use.

At this point there is a constant firing ... We dug holes in the earth yesterday over which we pitched our tents. The holes are about 3 feet deep & are just to the rear of the rifle pits and breast work with ditches to connect with the rifle pit so that we can keep down below the bullets that fly over... The pit behind the breast work is 8 feet wide and deep enough for a man to stand up & his head still below the top of the breastwork. There is a step next to the breast to step upon to discharge the gun ...

Last night after dark, the Col. wanted some brush cut in front of the work to clear the view... I then took a hatchet to cut a hickory ... I guess I stirred the johnnies for a shell came screaming over from the fort in our front and just cleared the top of our works."

Cyrus L. Witter was captured six days after this letter was written at the Battle of the Crater and was imprisoned at Danville Va. where he later died of disease on Dec. 19, 1864.

An amazing firsthand account of the Battle of Petersburg with a hand drawn map. Truly one of a kind!

Comes housed in 6 x 8 riker display case with red velvet and descriptive card.

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Inventory Number: DOC 373