CIVIL WAR LETTER: A PHYSICIAN'S INCREDIBLE ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN

Autograph letter signed by Sylvester S. Willard, Co. C, 98th New York. Washington, D.C., 2 September 1862. 5 pagers, 8vo. With original cover, including red three-cent stamp and cancel. 

An incredible account of the Second Battle of Bull Run from the perspective of a physician. Sylvester S. Willard originally enlisted as a first lieutenant in Company C, 98th New York in February 1862 but was promoted to captain four months later. Writing to a relative named Clara, Willard describes the past four days, beginning with the end of the battle: 

"On Saturday the battles were reported. On Sunday we had great anxiety in Albany. At 2 o’clock our Surgeon General received a telegraph from the Surgeon General of the United States, saying send on surgeons who will stay. At 4 o’clock just two hours after, I left Albany with Drs. Swinburne, Bailey, and Vanderveer a medical cadet. We rode all night, sleeping but little in the cars and reached Washington this morning [2 September 1862] at ten o’clock."

He goes on to discuss the logistics of attempting to reach the wounded as ordered by Dr. Harris, who had charge of the Capitol's hospital: "...we were the men to go over the river into Virginia, where there are many thousand wounded in the hands of the Enemy & to enter their lines by flag of truce, but he could promise us no escort, & rebel cavalry are prowling about the road to Fairfax, & we would be in danger of falling into their hands.... We went back to see the Surgeon General & to raise the party for this service, but delay occurred, and the object to be attained had to be discussed, & wounded were expected to arrive, and in the delay our going over has been postponed. Probably now we shall not go at all." 

Fought from 28-30 August 1862, the Second Battle of Bull Run was the culmination of Gen. Lee's Northern Virginia Campaign, beginning with Stonewall Jackson capturing a Union depot and attacking a column east of Gainesville. Over the next two days, several skirmishes ensued, resulting in a Confederate victory with nearly 10,000 Union soldiers and just over 7,000 Confederates wounded or killed. 

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