884. WASHINGTON ARTILLERY AT THE BATTLE OF MECHANICSVILLE A nice war-date Confederate soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written in pencil by a private in the Washington Artillery of New Orleans, "Bivouac near Richmond, Va.", "May 25, 1862" [likely written on June 26 or 27] to his mother relating his combat experiences during the battle of Mechanicsville. In part: "...last Saturday night we ended our retreat from the Peninsular...we bivouacked about...2 miles of Richmond...I suppose we have what might be called a hard time but what has surprised me is to find how much sooner the old members begin to complain than we who have recently enlisted... we are continually on the move...last Sunday we were ordered to move...to protect [?] bridge 5 miles from R[ichmond]...the yard was a beautiful grassy hill. The family were still at the place. Our guns were put in position in the yard. Two by the front door and two back of the house in the gardens frowning darkly on the valley below...about noon our 1st Rifle pieces were sent out...to engage their [Union] advance guard in an artillery skirmish. A very heavy cannonading ensued. We were very close but it was hid from us by a piece of woods...we could see the shell bursting in the air. I was formerly on the 1st detachment but was transferred to the mountain howitzers. Fess was in it. He came in last night...he said that one of our shells he saw 2 cavalry horse fall. One rider was seen to rise but the other was thought to be killed. There were several other pieces with ours but owing to some misunderstanding they left this morning...and left our one piece to compete with a heavy 6 gun battery...we were forced to fall back. Capt. Rosser [future major general Thomas L. Rosser] retreated some distance and unlimbered and opened upon them in full view of us...a shell burst wounding Capt. Rosser in the arm and a piece passing entirely through his horse in the hind part if his body. It has been raining very hard all day...but notwithstanding the enemy have just opened fire and another Rifle & a Howitzer has just been ordered out. They are still booming away...you know all about the battle of Williamsburg. We had just left the place and could hear the rattle of musketry and boom of the artillery..." Worthy of further research as he illegibly signs his name, a great Confederate battle letter. Minor spotting, else very good. $400-500