March 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, March 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/29/2018
Lot of 7 letters by WIA Soldier William Crawford, who enlisted in July 1861 in Co. B of the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry, a tough regiment that fought at Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Missionary Ridge. Crawford recounts several of the battles here, including Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville (where he was WIA), the Battle of McDowell and an intense skirmish in May 1862 at Franklin, WV. Writing to his brother John on 18 September 1862, Crawford describes Second Bull Run, ''...we have been in several engagements and...I am still spared to write to you...since the battle at Slaughter Mountain down to Bull Run we have been in them all. We were six days fighting along the Rappahannock, very heavy again at Sulpher Springs and then down to Manassas Plains. It was the heaviest fight that we have been in. The shot and shell were falling around and about us very thick & fast. Still we held our ground and trusted in the Lord. The battle lasted for two days. It was an awful scene to look on. To hear the groans and crys of our wounded. Our regiment was badly cut up and we are now left to mourn the loss of our Colonel [Kotles] who was killed while discharging his duty in the cause of his country. There is three or four of our company missing. Sergeant Allan is one of them. We had one man wounded with a piece of shell, but it is getting better. We are encamped near Washington in front of the fortifications...we are under marching orders, but where to we know not...I saw old William Counyers at Centreville the day after the battle and I was very happy to see him. I had not seen him in seven months and we were not more then rejoiced to clasp the hands of friendship once more...Wm. C. Crawford''.
The regiment's next big battle was at Chancellorsville, which Crawford remembers in vivid detail, writing on 21 May 1863 from Finely Hospital where he was recovering from his wounds, ''...we left Stafford on the 13th of April to Mount Airy near Kellys Ford from there to Chancellorsville whare we met the enemy. Tired and much worn out we arrived on the 29 [April] and had a skirmish the next day driving them back...on the first of May we held them until Saturday evening the 2d of May when the battle became general at 5 o'clock then we had it hot and heavy. The rebels came division by division, half drunk hooting and yelling like madmen. I never saw the like of it before. The heads and legs and in fact the bodies flying in the air. I really thought heaven and earth were together. We had three charges of grape and canister firing at them but we were compelled to fall back. I was fighting for one hour and a half when I was wounded in the arm above the elbow. Our brigade gets good praise for standing their ground so well when the other cowardly wretches were running away from us, leaving us to the Mercy of the rebels...when I look back and see the critical position I was in I have great reason to thank God that it is no worse with me then it is. I am getting along very well although I cant straighten my arm yet. It does not hinder me from writing although my arm still trembles with a little pain. We were badly cut up. There is still a number of our company missing yet...Wm. C. Crawford''.
Crawford recounts other skirmishes, including chasing Stonewall Jackson through the Shenandoah Valley at the Battle of McDowell in May 1862: ''...we have had a very hard time of it since we left Fairfax...we have been marching ever since traveling over mountains and rivers driving the enemy before us. Our hardships are many and my trials and temptations are severe...we are building fortifications here to receive [Stonewall] Jackson and [Joseph E.] Johnston. We have been along time hunting about the mountains for them. We gave Jackson a chase here but we expect him again...I should like to...get out of this company for it is a ruination to both soul and body. We are all very happy altho we have hungry bellys and nothing to eat...Wm. C. Crawford...care of Capt. Hasbett, Com. B, 73d regt P.V. Col. Koltes in Gen. Blenkers division, Western Virginia, Franklin town''. A month later, on 26 June 1862, Crawford writes again to his brother, ''..''...we had one fight at Franklin [West Virginia] on May 22nd and repulsing the enemy to a retreat, another march after [Stonewall] Jackson. We turned back on May 25th in pursuit...caught hold of him again near Strasburg and gave him a whipping, repulsed him again and drove him clean up to Port Republic and there we had it hot and heavy for several hours repulsing him...we turned back to Strasburg and we have now joined Genl. Siegel Division. [General Louis] Blenker has nothing to do with us now...this last march...was a hard one for us under a hot boiling sun marching at 23 and 24 miles a day...our loss was very heavy. On both sides there is some reports that Jackson is reinforced and that he is laying back for us. Well I suppose when we get a good rest we will give him another chase round the mountains and valleys. Jackson is very smart but he will never stand and fight like a man, but will kill his men in running. When we chased him to Port Republic his men had to throw away their blankets, guns, etc and be taken prisoners. We had 5 hundred and 50 of them and we lost one of our members after the battle taken prisoner. It is laughable...to see...both armies...chase each other round the mountains...I am getting tired of such work...on May 28th we waded two of the south branches of the Potomac. The water was running very swiftly. It take us up to the waist...we have gone through many hard and trying scenes this past few months in skirmishing with the enemy, the boom, shells, & cannon balls flying over our heads, not knowing the time our end is up therefore it is our duty to ask an interest in all your prayers public and private that God will enable us to stand firm in the last of our life not fearing the shell nor ball but trusting in him who is the God of battles...Wm. C. Crawford''.
In the remaining letters, Crawford's devotion to God is evident, and he is even moved to tears at one point by the carnage around him as he tries to lead a pious life. He writes in March 1863, ''...I have for the past few weeks striving with all my might to drown the sin that still rings in my ears...on Sabbath afternoon and evening I was very much struck at heart to hear the contrast of good and bad men...our right battalion were singing hymns of praise to the God...our left battalion were uttering oaths of vengeance at each other. I could not refrain from shedding tears of sorrow. I had to leave my little tent...and give vent to my tears in the open where I wept bitterly and though myself a sinner...I could not live the life of a sinner therefore I am...resolved to try. If I stay away I know I must forever die...William C. Crawford''. Similarly, in a letter from February 1862, Crawford recounts the death of a soldier who did not worship God, ''...He lived a miserable and unhappy life up till his death. I oft times conversed with him on the manner he lived, but it was for no use. He would still curse and swear until God finely struck the blow. He died very suddenly, unprepared two days before he died he complained of being weak and he answered to his name the night before he died and before the light of another day he was found in his bunk stiff dead. So this is the life of the ungodly...[stenciled] Wm. C. Crawford''. Letters come with transcriptions, though Crawford's penmanship is also excellent. Several letters span 4pp. on 7.5'' x 9'' paper, with two also having original envelopes. A few letters or envelopes are on patriotic stationery. In very good condition.
73rd Pennsylvania Soldier WIA at Chancellorsville -- ''...The rebels came division by division, half drunk hooting and yelling like madmen...we held our ground and trusted in the Lord...''
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