162. UNION OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN A fine content, rare war-date Union officer's battle letter, 4pp, 4to., in ink by 2nd Lt. Augustus C. Hand Livingston, Co. K, 38th New York Vols., Camp Scott, Alexandria, [Va.], June [actually August] 2, 1861 concerning the battle of First Bull Run and of hiding behind his men during an execution. In small part: "...When we first came within reach of the enemy's cannon and the big balls began to whiz over our heads...we were nearly played out before we reached the battlefield...I kept talking to the boys and tried to cheer them by laughing and trying to get off some very dry joke when an old cannon ball would whiz over our heads...there was the enemy within...a quarter of a mile. I...cautioned the boys to keep cool and not get excited and...not to fire on any of our own men...when we came near enough to the enemy...the order was given to fire...after the first volley is delivered you loose all fear...and feel perfectly cool...the last time we rallied and fired...I stayed...until I could not see one of our own company and but two or three of the whole regiment...when we rallied the last time before retreating there was two or three regiments in the rear of us...we were close...to the woods and bushes where the enemy were. Part of our regiment rushed right into the bushes without any order, part of the regiment opened fire on...another of the Rebels batteries concealed in the bushes...then every man looked out for himself...I stood where we halted...to keep these other regiments from firing on our men, but...some of them did fire...after I had been there fifteen...minutes. I went to looking for some of our own Regt, but could not find any...but one or two of the Regt and they were officers...after I had retreated a short distance I fell in with five or six of our Regt and we started off together down the hill, but...there was a volley of musketry fired upon us...the way the balls whistled around our heads was terrible. I thought that Augustus Cincinnatus Hand Livingston had about played out...his game...in this world, but I was bullet proof. The orderly Sergeant [Samuel Ashworth] & clerk of Company I were close beside me and they were both shot dead. About this time the general retreat commenced and every man went where he had a mind to...it was a rather mixed up mess. Our men...came straggling along one at a time all day Monday. I arrived at our camp about 9 o'clock A. M. having been traveling ever since 6 o'clock A. M. the day before...yesterday we had to go and witness...a man hung...at Fort Ellsworth for shooting a negro woman...at Alexandria...". With a photocopy of Livingston's 1900 obituary. The 38th fought hard that day and lost nearly 150 men she took into combat. Much more interesting content. Very good condition. $800 - 1,000