Civil War Soldier's Letter by Asa Kingsbury of the Massachusetts 11th Volunteers with Seven Days Campaign Content....

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Civil War Soldier's Letter by Asa Kingsbury of the Massachusetts 11th Volunteers with Seven Days Campaign Content. Eight pages on two bifolia, 5 x 8 inches; July 20, 1862. Writing after the Seven Days Campaign, Asa Kingsbury recounts the details of General McClellan's retreat to his "friend Nellie." He describes running into a "Pioneer" who asks if he has heard the rumor about "making a grand Skedaddle from this place."

Although Kingsbury is doubtful that there would be a retreat, he takes notice of the hurried packing by the officers, and soon receives orders to pack a light haversack and destroy all stores. He continues: "While waiting here the Pioneers we had left in the hospital came up to us and said the hospital steward came into their tent and told them that our forces had been fighting three days and the rebels had turned our right flank and that if they did not want to be taken prisoners they had better go with the wagons as Gen McClellan was retreating back toward the James river so we could have the gunboats to help us. And that Hooker's Div was to cover the retreat and act as rear guard. Just then we could hear our boys firing by volley and we could now and then hear the loud report of cannon. At last everything was ready and we began to move, but we could not go more than a quarter of a mile at a time owing to the drivers trying to get by one another and then blocking up the road...We could hear them fighting and till nine o'clock in the evening the roar of cannon was terrific. Every now and then some one on horseback would come up and say don't be frightened boys we are mowing the Johny rebels down by dozens. Our boys are fighting like perfect tigers. Three times that day did our boys repulse them and yet they seemed to have as many men. We took several hundred prisoners this day and found Whiskey with gunpowder in it which accounts for this bravery...Our loss is estimated at ten thousand killed as many men wounded. The rebels says they lost seventy-five thousand and killed, wounded and missing. It had now got to be Wednesday and we had had no rest of any consequence..."

Kingsbury closes the letter noting he is happy the letter's recipient enjoyed the CDV album he had previously sent as a gift. He explains that it had been recommended by an acquaintance in Boston and lists the notable figures whose images were included, listing his preferred order of placement: "Lincoln, Scott, McClellan, Fremont, Banks, Pope, Heintzmann, Hooker, etc." A full typed transcript of the letter is present.

Condition: Flattened mail folds, with darker toning to the bottom two-thirds of the last page of the letter. A few stray ink stains and minor thumbsoiling.