Autograph letter signed by William W. Moore, Co. F, 64th New York Infantry. Head-Quarters 64th Regt, Camp at Fair Oaks, 15 June 1862. 3 pages, 8vo, on "The Nation's Defense" letterhead.  

A letter with excellent details on the engagements of the 64th New York Infantry at the Battle of Seven Pines. 

Private Moore recounts the battle with an account of General Oliver Otis Howard and the cowardice he witnessed: "Our regiment fought well and was highly complimented by General Howard who I am sorry to say lost his arm in the engagement after having his horse killed under him. Our brigade fought nobly with the exception of the 61st [New York] commanded by Colonel [Francis C.] Barlow. His men broke and run some, clear back across the Chickahominy."

He continues with more details of the battle, especially praising their Austrian Lorenz rifles: "There was only two killed in our company. There was not one of us that expected that morning to go in any fight until the balls began to whistle. The fight was entirely in the woods. We crept along until we could see them. Then we sent in the balls so think that they had to retreat. The 64th has the best rifles in the field. They are the Austrian Rifles - a very short gun but good." 

The letter concludes with a report of friendly fire: "Our regiment lost 180 men killed and wounded. The 5th new Hampshire Volunteers fired a whole volley into us doing more damage than all the rebs done." 

William W. Moore enlisted on 17 August 1861 as a private and was mustered into Company F of the 64th New York Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal in April 1863 before he was wounded in action at the Battle of Gettysburg on the second day. Here, he writes to his cousin Dwight Moore (1841-1864), who served in Company H of the 154th New York Infantry. Dwight was captured on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg and was confined at Belle Isle. Due to the horrific conditions, he fell ill and died of disease at Richmond on 4 December 1863. 

A letter with excellent and at times unflattering commentary on the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks). 

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