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June 28, 1861

Page 1

LETTER FROM A HARPER’S FERRY SOLDIER

WINCHESTER, VA., June 21, 1861

Messrs. Editors: Our regiment (the 11^th Mississippi) was thrown into ecstacies a few moments ago, on reception of several numbers of your daily paper. Ten thousand thanks for it.

We have this morning returned to camp from the city, whither we had gone to feel the public pulse as to our evacuation of Harper’s Ferry. I went to the office of the Republican, in the hope to get a leader that might, perchance, throw some light upon the military strategy which prompted the movement, but learned that they now issued only a “weekly.” Our idea was that our General, who is here, might not have deemed it inconsistent with his position and the public interest to have foreshadowed informally the reason for so grave and important a step. This is the more demanded because of the complexion of his army, and of the still more important fact, that as common soldiers, our arms are loaded, and shall I not say would be as unhesitatingly leveled against the breast of a commander who would disgrace us, as against the foe himself, in the field. You understand us! Rather than disgrace our cause, our State, our sacred homes and firesides by a dastardly retreat, or by a movement wearing that aspect, we had rather die. But there is no cause for any such unhappy allusions.

You want something reliable from the seat of war. On Thursday, the 13^th, our tents at Harper’s Ferry were struck, our baggage packed up, and all that could encumber us sent away. From that time till Saturday we lay upon our cars, waiting the approach of our foe, whom we learned were marching upon us 25,000 strong. Lights upon the Maryland heights and every other stratagem in common use were resorted to, to provoke an attack. But all to no effect. On Saturday, after the final destruction of all the public property, we evacuated the place and marched four miles beyond Charlestown, eleven miles distant, and there camped on the Winchester road.

Sunday morning, 16^th, we received information that 13,000 of Gen. Patterson’s command were at “Bunker Hill,” eighteen miles off, had crossed the Potomac, and were marching upon Winchester, etc., having left behind 13,000 of their forces. This information was from our own picket guard, and thought to be reliable. It would have caused your heart to leap to have heard the shout of approbation as we turned from the regular road, and directed our march towards our foe. All day (Sunday) amidst a thousand thrilling occurrences, we marched over the roughest and dryest country on earth—every step quickened by fresh news of the number and position of our enemy. On reaching the hill overlooking the little town of “Bunker Hill,” fifteen minutes rest was allowed us, and we were then marched over the bridge, and to our camp, to the South of the road into a dense “rough” of rock and forest, where a foe could have scarcely penetrated. We verily thought that this was to be our first victorious battle field or our graves. We rested for the night upon our arms as usual; the foe as we thought in four miles of us.

In the morning the order of battle was arranged. The two Regiments (2d and 11^th) from Mississippi, a Regiment from Tennessee, and a battalion of troops from Baltimore were formed into a Brigade and assigned to Col. Faulkner of Mississippi. I am not posted as to the arrangement of other forces. The Colonel made us a speech promising us that, before the (then) morrow’s sun should set, if he could have his way, not a foot of the foe should pollute the soil of Virginia. This sounded in our ears like war, and our voices responded bravely. An hour afterwards, while yet upon the field, information reached us that the enemy had retreated and crossed the Potomac, and all chance for a battle gone. We shall not attempt to describe our bitter disappointment. Our 8,000 troops could have cut through and annihilated the entire army of the enemy had it been 20,000 strong. If, perchance, we had been overpowered, the last man of this army would have died at his line rather than have grounded his arms. The voice of no commander could have been heeded to any other purpose.

But the movement is at an end for the present. We were marched and quartered here near Winchester to await the further development of events. Last night some of our forces left here, we know not where, or upon what object; as yet we have no information from them.

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]