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Great Content War Letter

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War-date Soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed, 4p. octavo, Camp Benton, Maryland, October 28, 1861, and reads "As there has been a fight here and as I took a memorandum I will give it to you...Sunday 10oc heavy firing at the river...Our troops are crossing the river...the battle going on over the river...reports that our troops are crossing the river in great numbers...Tueday morning 2 oc just been relieved from guard all quite in the direction of the river...8oc report says that it has been another bull run affair, they say also that the NY 20 & 15 are litterally cut to pieces. The ambulance are bringing in the wounded from the 20th and have been all night. 11 oc the ambulance are still bringing in the wounded...I would not be a private soldier for a large amount...12 oc heavy firing in the direction of Chain Bridge. The rebels have sent in a flag of truce to suspend firing until they bury their dead which is very great....the 20th has just come back what there is left of them. They have got 100 wounded and 200 killed and taken prisoners. Col Lee their Col and his staff are all taken prisoners, there is but 5 officers left. Gen. Williams has come here and says that Gen. Stone who sent those troops across did it without his orders and must be looked after, it was a most shameful affair. Col Baker that lead the troops on is killed, he had 4 bullets through his body and 3 through his head. The place where our troops crossed was up a high bank of the river nearly 100 feet high with the mud up to their knees. After they had reached the top they drove the rebels back into one of their masked batteries when they opened fire on them which our troops could not stand and they had to retreat across the river. The rebels pushed our wounded over the bank into the river showing no mercy at all...I went down to the bank of the river where our pickets are and I heard the rebels pickets singing dixie..." More. VG.

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