Civil War Excellent Union Soldier’s Letter - The Siege of Yorktown
Civil War Excellent Union Soldier’s Letter - The Siege of Yorktown - Inventory Number: DOC 358
Lengthy, 4pgs letter, approx. 5" x 8", in clear, dark pencil, datelined" Camp Winfield Scott, April 23rd" (1862), from Henry, 2nd Regt. R.I. Vols., to his brother. An interesting letter from a soldier during McClellan's siege of Yorktown in the Peninsula Campaign. Incl:"I take pen in hand to let you know how and what the 2nd R.I. is doing. On the 20th, we received orders to pack up our things for a short march. The rain was falling in torrents and there was a pretty good look for getting wet...marched about two miles, where we camped. Here was camped Davidson's Brigade, comprising the 7th Maine, 33rd N.Y., 49th N.Y. & 77th N.Y. Regts. The reason we were brought here was to reinforce this brigade. A little over a quarter of a mile from here was a rebel fort mounting some heavy guns, which could they get a chance to fire, would have made the woods too hot for us. But our sharp shooters do not give them a chance to fire a gun. Not over 500 yds from this fort, our men have thrown up a large fort and have dug rifle pits nearly 1/4 of a mile long, which when completed, will knock secesh high as a kite. The 1st Sergt. & myself took a little walk down towards the fort our men were at work on, but on coming to the edge of the woods, the pickets would not let us go any farther...so we went in to the woods a little ways and climbed up a large tree from which we could get a tip top view of both ours & the rebel forts. While we were up in the tree, the rebels displayed a flag of truce which was met by one on our side...For some 3 or 4 nights, we have been called into line, on account of the rebels firing at our pickets. They march a whole regt. down on the banks of the creek and fire their pieces without taking aim... Yesterday we had orders to take down our huts and prepare to go back to Warwick C.H. We had got everything all ready to march at a moment's warning when a continuous firing was heard in the direction of our pickets, and the order was given for us to fall in line and load at will, as quickly as possible. In less than three minutes every man was in line, when Gen. Davidson rode up and gave the order to forward guide center. Every man expected that we were to have warm work. We went in about 200 yds, through thickets, swamps & quagmire, when the order was given to about face, forward march.
We marched back 100 yds...and then marched a short distance to the left, when we came to the front and marched back into the woods to where there was an open space caused by the felling of trees. Here we laid down in the mud and water, and skirmishers were thrown out on our right and left for the purpose of enticing the rebels into this open space, but secesh wouldn't come...If they had, they would have met with the warmest reception they ever had....Gen. Davidson complimented Col. Wheaton very much on the actions of the men. He said he never saw a regiment keep a better line than we did....During the attack yesterday on our pickets, 3 of the 7th Maine Regt., who were on picket, were wounded and one killed. The one killed was pierced with 6 or 7 bullets...Old Jeff Davis is going to take command of the rebel forces. He had better look out or his days are ended.
There is considerable talk now about the French Minister's visit to Richmond...Enclosed will find a photograph of Gen. Keyes, commanding the Corps we are in, and Gen. Couch, commanding the Division...and Col. Briggs, acting Brig. Gen. of our Brigade..." VF
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Inventory Number: DOC 358