Details:

Unsigned four-page manuscript letter written from Arlington Heights, Virginia, dated July 26, 1861, just five days after the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas). Written to the soldier’s brother, Horace, the letter offers a detailed firsthand account of the Union Army’s march through Washington, D.C., encampment in northern Virginia, and the aftermath of the Union defeat at Bull Run.

The soldier describes leaving Camp Jefferson and marching through Washington, recalling that the city “appeared to be literally filled with soldiers” as citizens lined the streets and “cheered us heartily.” Crossing the Long Bridge over the Potomac into Virginia, he vividly recounts the spectacle of campfires stretching across the hillsides, calling it “the grandest night scene I ever beheld,” with soldiers from neighboring camps cheering as his regiment passed.

He provides a compelling description of life in camp, sleeping beneath the open sky before pitching tents in the woods, carrying only blankets, knapsacks, and basic equipment while awaiting the arrival of baggage wagons. Writing only days after the disastrous First Battle of Bull Run, he reports that although Union forces numbered only about 20,000 against an estimated 75,000 Confederates, “men who were engaged in the battle say that notwithstanding this difference in numbers we had them fairly whipped & might have held the positions we gained had it not been for the misconduct of our officers.” The letter concludes with the writer being interrupted by a false alarm as a sentinel suddenly warned of a possible attack, forcing him to gather his writing materials and prepare for action.

Very good condition.

Written during the opening weeks of the Civil War, this letter captures the optimism, hardships, and uncertainty experienced by Union soldiers immediately following the First Battle of Bull Run. Its firsthand observations of Washington’s military buildup, the march into Virginia, camp life, and candid assessment of the Union defeat make it an evocative eyewitness account from one of the conflict’s earliest and most consequential campaigns.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11669 1416941-1