We advanced into a cornfield...some along the lines were hit by bullets & some by grape & shells...It was then probably that my knapsack got its wound.

Autograph letter signed by John P. Garrett, Co. E, 97th New York Infantry. Near Fredericksburg, Virginia, 16 December 1862. 4 pages, 8vo. With original envelope, Alabama stamp, and red 3-cent postage stamp.

Featured in November 2012 issue of America’s Civil War" magazine.

A remarkable bullet-struck letter from the Battle of Fredericksburg with wonderfully detailed content describing the actions of the 97th New York Infantry on 13 December 1862. Written by musician John P. Garrett who enlisted with Company E of the 97th New York Infantry in the fall of 1862. In his letter, Garrett offers an unabashed and highly descriptive account of his regiment’s involvement before and during Fredericksburg. This includes detailing the organization of Federal soldiers before crossing the Rappahannock River and wistful insights into the fertility of local Virginia farmland. He also contemplates the prospect of northerners venturing south to help enrich the land once the war concludes.

Notably, the lettersheet itself has been damaged by Confederate gunfire: "confound the Rebel bullet, it was fired into my knapsack during the fight of Saturday the 13th and injured this sheet in the way you see, and probably 150 others which I will have to use at times." Later he gives a full and detailed account of the Battle, describes the circumstances in greater detail. When getting pummeled by bullets, grapeshot, and shells: "some took off their knapsacks and I was one and lay my head on the blanket part, allowing the other to stick up above my head for defense. It was then probably that my knapsack got its wound."

During battle, Garrett appears cool, collected, and incredibly observant. In his letter, he describes the maneuvers of his regiment, the slow, crawling tactics employed by skirmishers, and the intensity of the artillery bombardment. Garrett includes his eerie observations of soldiers in their moment of death: "Men when hit would not fall suddenly & Stiffly as I had imagined, but would rather settle down apparently selecting a place where to lie or set down. "

A fine example of a bullet-struck or “hit” relic from a major eastern battle with an outstanding description of a regiment’s actions at Fredericksburg.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Manuscripts, Letters, Ephemera, Relics]