Augusta County: Tony Pastor to Annie Harris,
September 23, 1862
Summary:
Writing to his lady friend Annie, Tony describes a recent successful march into
Maryland, including the capture of Harper's Ferry. He mentions a great ensuing
battle but says he has no time to discuss it in detail.
Sept. 23d, 1862
Camp near Martinsburg
Dear Annie,
Your most welcome letter dated the [unclear: 5]th
has just this moment come to hand, which believe me was read with delight
& interest, it being the only one received
from any source whatever for more than a month. You have no idea how much good
it does a poor soldier to get a letter from absent friends, especially those who
are as near & dear as I believe you to be. I was truly glad to hear that
you were in the enjoyment of your usual health. hope you may continue to enjoy
the same so long as you are permitted to pilgrimmage in the wicked world of
ours. Suppose that you have had a full account of the battles as manassas before
this; taking this for granted I will not occupy your time with a repetition, but
will hasten on to give you a brief account of our trip into Maryland. We crossed
the
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river near Leesburg after the battles at Manassas &
proceeded to Fredrick City in Fredrick County. We captured some few stores,
& all the wounded & sick in Hospital, numbering some 500, the
most of whom were convalescent, took [unclear: possession] of the
Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road & Telegraph wires, destroyed the
bridge. here we camped a few days, from thence we marched in the direction of
Hagerstown to a little town called Boonsboro here we had a little skirmish with
some Yankee Cavalry, which resulted in killing one
& capturing one, from thence we marched to Williamsport a little town on
the Potomack, where we recrossed the river, from thence to Martinsburg where
there were several thousand Yanks (Longstreet & Hill Divisions remaining
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in Maryland) but before we reached the place they made their
escape to Harper Ferry. We remained there a short time, after which we went on
towards the Ferry, in the mean time Hills division marched on to the "Maryland
Heights," & [illeg.] on the
"Virginia", Jackson bringing up the rear. When we got about 3 miles of the
Ferry, we could see the Yankee tents [illeg.] on "Bolivar Heights" - this was on Saturday evening. On Sabbath morning our batteries opened on them from the
heights, which was responded to by the enemy, but
our men having a much higher position rendered their shot inaffective. we were
then completely around them with [added: no] chance
of their making an escape. Old Jack sent in a flag of truce demanding an
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unconditional surrender they asked till the next day. The firing was
kept up all day & on monday morning our batteries opened again having
changed their position, it was not long until they hoisted the white flag. Old
Jack was soon in their midst, thus ended the scene - about 13,000 prisoners were
taken including 1,500 Negroes, 15000 stand of small arms, 50 pieces of
artillery, 1500 horses 4 or 500 wagons ambulances & a [illeg.]
We were then marched on to Shepardstown Crossing into Maryland were our forces
were attacked by McCleland, Burnside, & in fact the whole of their army
from Washington & on the 19th just one of the
greatest battles of the war was fought, of which I have no time now to speak,
suffice it to say our loss was very heavy, & that of the enemy equal as heavy if not more so. I must close for tonight.
If we dont move in the morning I will add a few lines more Good night god bless
you.
Yours, in haste
Tony
