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11 letter archive by Edward Vidlear of the 114 New York Infantry, Co. G, who was WIA at the 3rd Battle of Winchester. In addition to Winchester, Vidlear writes about the Battles of Mansura, Berryville and numerous skirmishes throughout the 1864 Valley Campaigns.
In his letter from September 1864, just after Winchester, Vidlear writes, ''...We advanced the 18th from Berryville when within 3 miles of Opequon we found the rebs in force then a terrible battle ensued. I was wounded in the beginning of the action. A bullet struck me in the left leg just below the knee joint and came out 3 inches from where it went in making only a slight flesh wound. The same bullet struck my right knee joint causing severe bruise. Another bullet through the fleshy part right arm near the shoulder causing quite a severe wound. I am having...good care and doing fine now...give yourself no uneasiness on my account. I can, when helped on my feet, walk a very little. The rebs got whipped like the very devil. Our regt. is very badly cut up. When I write agin I will give you more particulars. Our army has drove the rebs 22 miles from here...E.H. Vildear...our army has captured 4000 rebel prisoners...my wounds do not pain me much...but I am pretty lame...I consider myself pretty lucky...our Col. [Samuel R. PerLee] was wounded. Billy Blank is wounded in the foot slightly...''
On 23 May 1864, Videlar writes about the Battle of Mansura: ''...the rebs were found to have quite a force in our front who seemed determined to give us battle. The troops were all formed in line of battle early in the morning of the 16 and in this order we advanced. We had gone a mile or more when the rebs commenced shelling our lines with...12 or 13 pieces artillery. Our artillery was got in position and made them get out...we then continued to advance the rebs slowly falling back with giving us battle. They turned off a road to our right and the next day came in our rear [on] the 18th at Simsport. Our cavalry and artillery had quite a hard fight with the rebs lasting nearly all day...''
On 26 August, Vidlear writes about General Sheridan facing General Jubal Early at Opequon: ''...We have had a pretty rough time since we have been in the dept. This army is commanded by General Sheridan. The 10th of this month we left this place and advanced upon the enemy who fell back showing but little fight until they arrived at Cedar Creek 10 mi. beyond Opequon. Here they were reinforced by Longstreet's Corps of 20,000 men [actually Gen. Joseph Kershaw's division] and they drove us back here a distance of 4 mi. We have got a strong position here. Today our regt is building breastworks in front of our line. It is thought that the rebs will attack us here. Thare is skirmishing going on at the front all the time during the day. The rebs are said to be 60,000 strong. We heard heavy cannonading yesterday at Shepardstown, but have not learnt the cause. All I know or hear anything about it war and fighting and I am perfectly sick of it...thank heaven I have only one year more. I can see no end to this war. The rebs are determined as ever but still I believe our cause is a good and just one and will yet conquer...''
On 9 September he describes the Battle of Berryville, ''...there was quite a fight here the 3d. The 8 Corps were the only one engaged and they lost 300 men. They whipped the rebs and took 50 prisoners. The fighting was only a little ways from us. We have got 3 men and they were pretty scart. They are 7 years men and got 700 bounty...The news of the fall of Atlanta has caused great rejoicing. What is hopes North this fall. Mosby has captured some of our train again. Bully for him. You want to know what I think of McClellan for President. I think he is not the man. I shall vote for Old Abe. Look of the men who nominated McClellan. They are Copperheads and have done more to prolong this war than any one else. Who is father going to vote for...''
In his letter dated 11 September, Vidlear writes more about Berryville and jockeying for position with the Rebels: ''...when I wrote before we were near Harpers Ferry where we had fallen back before the rebel army. The rebel army commenced falling back two weeks ago and we followed them...we advanced 6 miles stopped and threw up fortifications and remained there one week when we again advanced to our present position and agin threw up fortifications. The day we arrived here the rebs attacked the left of our line which is held by the 8th Corps and were handsomely repulsed. Our loss was 100. The rebel loss is estimated at 500. Our men were behind breastworks. The first 2 days we were here. It was quite an interesting place. Our picket line is in plane sight...the rebel pickets and ours kept firing nearly all the while. A brig. was sent out and drove the rebs back nearly 2 miles. Since then we have had no picket firing. Every other day 5 men out of a Co. are sent out on picket. We sent out a picket last night. One boy out of our Co. and one from Co. E [Pvt. Daniel A. Tremanin] left their post and went to the front to an orchard to eat some apples. They have not yet returned. They were probably taken prisoner...''
On 24 October he writes about men killed and wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek on 19 October: ''...my wounds are doing first rate. More wounded are coming in here from the Valley. They were mostly wounded the 19th of this month. The talk is...that the New York boys are going to be transferred home to vote. I have heard from my regt. since the last fight of Oct. 19th. Lieut. Col. Morse was killed. There is only 40 men left in the regt. Capt. Daniel Knowlton...was also killed...this last fight must have been worse than the first when oh, when will this cruel war end and peace be again restored to our distracted country...peace would cause more joy and happiness than anything else...but still I am not for peace on any terms...those who have died have not died in vain, but for a cause as glorious as ever men battle for...if you want to know who to vote for vote Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson and the rest of the Republican Ticket...''
In one of Vidlear's last letters, dated 30 April, he tells a sad story of seeing his friend bleed to death, ''...I wrote about one [of our] corporals meeting with a sad accident last night. At 13 minutes before 10 he breathed his last. He bled to death. The main artery breaking loose. I was with him most of the time...until he died. He was a German by birth and a very warm hearted men. We all deeply feel his loss...'' Very good condition with near complete transcriptions.
Letter Archive by WIA Soldier in the 114th NY Infantry: ''...a terrible battle ensued...A bullet struck me in the left leg...The rebs got whipped like the very devil...''
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