887. UNDER PATTERSON DURING THE FIRST BULL RUN CAMPAIGN A great war-date Union soldier's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Private Ethan A. Clary, Co. K, 2nd Mass. Vols. Harper's Ferry, Va., July 25, 1861 to his mother concerning fighting alongside Abner Doubleday during the First Bull Run campaign and of occupying Harper's Ferry. In part: "...we are at the noted John Brown place...I have been in the building where he was taken and have some of the balls that I dug out of the trees...we encamped...in Charlestown were he was hung. I saw Col. C. P. Stone...he and his staff board...opposite of Col. Gordon. I shall make myself know... his men told me they would fight to a man...for him for he was like a father to them...you never saw people so overjoyed as they were...when we came...they...say the rebels took everything...they could... the ladies are on the grounds all the times to see if the men want anything...I suppose you have heard of the fight...d__m old Genl Patterson...has turned traitor. If he had marched us on to Bull run as Scott ordered we would have whipped them...he kept 35,000 men doing nothing...near Bunker Hill we routed 600 cavalry...they rode into the woods...just then Doubleday's artillery...if you could have seen them go as if the Devil had been after them. Major Doubleday fired 3 shots, two balls and one shell killing one man and two horses...we have got 7 rebel prisoners, one a captain...we kept a strong guard over him. One we discharged...he says more than one half...are forced in through fear of being shot. This captain says he will join our army. Genl Banks has taken old Patterson's command...I have been in the lot were John Brown was hung...it is amusing to talk with the people about Brown they say there has been no peace since he came here...Tyler just went by with a loaf of bread...someone let him have...they feel at rest while we are here...they are safe now. The rebels come in every day and carry off two or three wagon loads of flour from the grist mills..." Clary served throughout the war and was wounded during the battle of Chancellorsville. Minor damp stains, else very good. $200-300