Description:

War-date letter sent home by Union Pvt. Elbridge Franklin, Co. C, 5th Michigan Infantry, 8pp. 8vo., "Camp near Yorktown, Va.", Apr. 6, 1862 to his father. In small part: "...Here we are...not one mile from the enemy...I was detailed immediately to go to Hampton to guard the Brigade stores & provisions...Friday we marched very slowly stopping at least half the time for other troops to move...about 30 Regts were ahead of us...We arrived at Big Bethel [and] marched on the battlefield & for the first time saw the habitations of rebel troops. They had mud houses...the works were not very strong...The position however was a good one...Sedgwick's Division passed us...we heard great cheering behind us...Gen. McClellan was coming...As he rode along our lines at the head of his staff, his head uncovered, such a waving of hats & cheering I never before heard...there followed 5 Regts Regular Infty & 11 Regular Batteries...The works here are much stronger than at Big Bethel...weather was warm...clothing strewn along the road...As our army advanced...the rebels...retired until our troops arrived near the batteries...The first cannon I heard was about noon...until about dark...A piece of woods lie between us and the rebels but our batteries...are in sight.. 2 balls struck about 40 rods from here & passed nearly over my head...They were fired at our Balloon about sundown...3 of our men were kiled...by the bursting of a shell...The picket of the opposing forces kept up a fire all night...Our balloon went up once last night & has been up nearly all AM...a man badly hurt by a rail which was thrown against him by a cannon ball...our provision wagons could not come up...Tomorrow we expect some fighting it not being McClellan's policy to fight on Sunday...Our sharpshooters have done all the fighting...They are hid near the rebel works...One gun the rebels have not been able to use at all the sharpshooters picking off the men whenever they show themselves. 4 rebels were killed at this gun...The Darkies come out & gather up all the thrown away clothing of the soldiers...Yorktown must be ours and it seems cannot fail to be in a few days...[all sic]" Very good. Good content on the first battle of McClellan's poorly executed Peninsula Campaign.

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July 31, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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