Augusta County: "Letter Delivered After Many Years," by Casper C. Henkel, 1908
Summary: Confederate Veteran Magazine prints a letter from 1863 that describes a Confederate soldier's experiences around the time of Gettysburg, including the battle itself as well as the relationship between Confederate soldiers and Union towns during the invasion.
The following letter was recently found in possession of a lady near Winchester, Va., and the supposition is that it was picked up near that town during the war. The letter was addressed to Miss Fannie Coiner, Waynesboro, Augusta, Va., and was written by Dr. Casper Henkel.
Miss Coiner married Capt. Ben Patterson, of the 23rd Regiment Virginia Cavalry; and, her husband being dead, she resides with her children and grandchildren, all of whom have recently seen the letter that remained undelivered for nearly forty-five years.
Dr. Henkel has been one of the most prominent physicians in the Valley of Virginia since the war, and is now seventy-three years of age. Many old soldiers suffering from wounds received during the war have gone to his home in later years and received surgical treatment as freely and with as little thought of compensation as when he tenderly and untiringly ministered to their needs on the field.
LETTER TO MISS COINER.
ON THE "FIELD," NEAR HAGERSTOWN, MD.,
July 12,
1863.
Dear Cousin: We were drawn up in line of battle yesterday near Hagerstown and still lie in wait for the enemy to attack us-had some picket firing last evening, and this morning the enemy's cavalry made an attack upon our cavalry and on the left and drove in our pickets from Hagerstown and now hold the town; captured some of our sharpshooters. Gen. A. P. Hill captured a large number of Yankee cavalry on the right. Our men have thrown up breastworks on a good position, and feel confident of giving the Yankees a whipping if they come up to them. It is now two o'clock and no indications of an advance. The river has been past crossing for some days, so that the most of our wagons still remain on this side; so should we be repulsed, what a scatteration there will be! We must lose all. The pontoon bridge will be completed to-day, and by morning the river can be forded. If we had the Yankees in the fix they have had us in for several days, I do not think many of them would escape. Our men and officers seem very confident of saving all. Cattle and extra horses have been driven across the river in large numbers. We crossed over the river on the 19th and camped on the old battlefield near Sharpsburg. Since that time we have been almost constantly on the march in battle line or fighting. We passed through Hagerstown on to Greencastle and Mercersburg; there we (3d Brigade) took the Pittsburg road and crossed over the North Mountain to the town of McConnellsburg, Fulton County, Pa., where we frightened a body of "malich" and heard of General Milroy at Bedford C. H.
We remained at McConnellsburg one day and took the road leading to Chambersburg, where we rejoined our division, and marched on to Shippensburg and camped near Carlisle. Here we remained a day, then made for Gettysburg, attacked the enemy on the 1st, repulsed them in fine style, they admitting a loss of ten thousand in killed, wounded, and prisoners. On the 2d they took a strong position east of Gettysburg on a little mountain with very rugged sides, with a creek and marshes around its base. Our troops attacked them furiously in this stronghold, repulsing them at times, then being repulsed again. Our men fought desperately, and overcame many almost incredible difficulties, but did not succeed in dislodging the Yanks from their last stronghold.
On the night of the 3d and 4th our army withdrew in their own time. The enemy made a very feeble effort at pursuing us, only in sufficient force to pick up stragglers and to watch our movements. Our losses are about ten or twelve thousand killed or wounded. Our division (Johnston's) lost 1,142 men killed and wounded; our brigade (Stuart's) lost 360 wounded, 84 killed; 37th Virginia had 44 wounded, 10 killed on the field, 1 lieutenant killed. The Northern papers admit tremendous losses, some as many as forty thousand. We certainly failed in our undertaking. General Lee was too confident in his men, expecting them to overcome difficulties too great. Troops never fought better or more obstinately, and succeed in driving the enemy whenever they could get to them. The enemy's success was owing to their advantage in position, not in valor. My opinion is that if General Lee had taken a position and allowed himself to be attacked he would have been victorious. Our men were very much mortified at the result, but say they can whip the Yanks-have done so and can whip them still.
At no time during the engagement were our men panic-stricken or routed. Every one seemed to turn his back on the enemy with regret. The roads were in wretched condition from the heavy rains of the 4th, 5th, and 6th, which added much to the depression which already weighed so heavily on us. Our wagon trains were attacked on their way to Williamsport by Yankee cavalry and some wagons taken. Our wagon train must have been twenty-five miles in length, and could not be protected at all points. I have just seen Lieutenant Stephens, an ordinance officer with Jenkins's Cavalry, and he states that he saw Major Eakle two hours ago quite well. He is on our right two miles distant, and will be past here today, provided the enemy attack us in passing to our left. I have seen very little of the cavalry on this trip. They have always been in advance or on the right or left.
Very few bright faces or "God bless you!" have greeted us since we crossed the river. The few sympathizers we meet are very cautious. A party called "Copperhead" Democrats seem more free to meet us than any other party. They profess to denounce Lincoln and cry for peace upon any terms. The citizens seem to be much relieved that we do not give them their dues. We treat them civilly, and not as they have treated us. Our officers do everything they can to protect citizens and their property. As far as I am concerned, I do not care how much property they destroy just so they respect the old and women and children.
I have found it a very difficult matter to procure anything in the way of goods that is desirable. Persons owning them are very loath to sell, and it requires a permit from a major general to visit a town or to stop on the way. Jenkins has been less lenient than any of the commanders. He has procured thousands of horses and cattle. We have fared bountifully most of the time on butter, milk, apple butter, and the nicest light bread I have ever seen. We have had a colored man foraging for our mess, who has kept us very well supplied. He disappeared a few days ago, however, with Colonel Williams's horse. Colonel Williams joined us yesterday. He has been home since Chancellorsville fight; has almost recovered from his wound. Dr. Shultz Miller is with me now at the hospital.
As to the country through which we passed, it is beautiful and all the highest state of cultivation. Most splendid barns and farm buildings I have seen. The people are very much such people as we have in Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties-the German portion.
Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Chambersburg are beautiful towns, and everything unmolested by the war. I did not see any of the Coiners about Shippensburg and Carlisle. I learned they were quite numerous, some of them Copperheads, others Lincolnites. I thought best not to visit them, as I could not expect to be kindly received. Mr. John Alexander (of the 25th Virginia), living near you, has just been to me to have a tooth extracted. He is quite well, and says he saw a Mr. Gilkison, of the cavalry, who states that all the Coiner boys are safe.
The Winchester girls were all in fine glee when I saw them; but all look careworn, having been under Yankee rule so long. The 13th Virginia Regiment has been on duty since we took Winchester, which has given the boys a chance of visiting their homes and being with friends.
Four o'clock P.M. The pickets along the line are firing fiercely at this time; otherwise all seems quiet. I have just received a lot of bandages, dressings, candles, chloroform, morphia, sponges, etc., for field use, and have everything in readiness for action. Eight o'clock P.M. I have just returned from the 14th Regiment; saw Major Eakle. He has had much hard work. Your pet "Charlie," Major Eakle's horse, was killed whilst the Major was leading a charge at Gettysburg.
Thank your father for his kindness in visiting mother.
Good-by. Your cousin,
Caspar C. Henkel.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Confederate Veteran, Vol. 16, 1908, p. 407-408
