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Civil War Soldier's Letter by Hamilton Ballentine of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry with Seven Days Battles Content.. ...
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$625.00
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Description
Civil War Soldier's Letter by Hamilton Ballentine of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry with Seven Days Battles Content.Six pages on one bifolium and one leaf, written in pencil; 5 x 8 inches; "Camp Yorktown," [Virginia]; July 1, 1862. Ballentine writes to his brother describing his retreat during the opening stages of the Seven Days Battles. He recounts how his squadron was suddenly ordered to fall back after Confederate forces advanced on their position near the Pamunkey River (with original spelling):
"What Will you think about hairing of Me Being at york town on Sunday the 22...2 Squadrons of us had to go out on picket for 2 Days the poseshion of our Squadron Was on the Mechanickvill Rod thair the gran gard stod I was sent with one Squad of the Men towards hanover cort hous...on Thursday Morning as I was expecting to be Releved I Reseved a Despach to take What ever men I could spair and go Beyond the Cort Hous and see if the ware repairing the Barges that We burnt at that Batel I Returned to My post and found a Man from the Capten teling Me that the had to fall Back...I then Called in My Pickets determing to Rejoin the Squadron I had hardly got the men together when I saw a larg Body of Rebels Coming up to us We then had to Retrate Back to towards the premunkey that is turning our Back to our one Men..."
During the confusion, Ballentine mistook a Confederate cavalry column for Union troops and narrowly escaped after they opened fire:
"Geting within 6 Miles of thair whair 2 Rodes Came to gether I saw a larg Body of Cavelry going the same Road Not knowing Whether the Ware are one Men or Rebels and I halted the Men and Rod forward to see Whether the ware our one or Not I had gon But a short ways when a Voley was fired at Me I then...Retrated Back the Same Way to the River..."
Ballentine rejoined the Union Army the following day. He closes by anticipating further movement against Confederate forces: "We may March this afternoon...to go Back the same Rode to Meet Jackson." Unbeknownst to him, Jackson's forces were delayed, and the Union achieved a decisive victory at Malvern Hill on the same day.
Condition: Lightly toned with smoothed folds; a few small separations at the edges. Separations at the integral fold resulting in a touch of loss. Some soiling and light foxing throughout.
Auction Info
2025 December 8 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6325 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2025
8th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 70
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25% of the successful bid per lot.
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