Augusta County: Charles W. Baylor to Charles W. McGuffin,
September[?] 24, 1864
Summary:
Charles W. Baylor's letter to Charles McGuffin describes what he knows of McGuffin's brother
John's death at the battle of Winchester, and mentions other men who were killed and
wounded.
24th/64
Camp Near Newmarket
Dear Charlie
I received yours of the 18th
[unclear: inst] yesterday. I am sorry to tell you that your Brother John is no more. He
was killed in the battle at Winchester, shot in the head I think, though I am not certain for I
did not see him, though I was told by some one who professed to know, he lived but a very short
time after he was struck. I would have written to you immediately but I
did not have time, I wrote home, and told my wife to tell Mary to write to you about and let
you know the worst, I have but little good news to tell you, we had another hard fight on the
19th [unclear: inst]
[page 2]
were victorious until about three o'clock, the Yanks flanked us and we had to fall
back which raised a perfect stampede, we captured wagons, ambulances, mules, horses, eighteen pieces of artillery &
about 1500 prisoners. Though fortune turned & we lost all the artillery that we
captured & I believe as much more, lost ambulance, wagons, & I don't know what
all we did not losses, though we got the prisoners out by hard work & had it not been
that they were in front of the train we would of gotten more of it out of the way. We lost but
very few prisoners & an unusual small number of killed & wounded. Though Company H lost - I think, its full share of in killed we took 11 men with
myself
[page 3]
into the fight out of that number there were two killed & one
wounded. Sergeant B.F. Hupp & W.H. McClung were killed or I
suppose McClung is dead my this time for he was shot in the head just above the right eye, the
ball is in his head, he was [unclear: insencible] in fifteen minutes afterward that was
about 9 O'clock in the morning, he was not dead at sundown but still insencible, &
seemed to be dying, Jacob Runkle was wounded in the right shoulder
slightly Colonel Williams was wounded in the right shoulder severely,
Colonel
[unclear: Runk] was left at Winchester supposed to be mortally wounded in the side, Dr.
Walls pronounced it mortal, Major Newton wounded in ankle, &
it is feared that he will lose his foot.
I must close as it is getting late, I would like to give you a more detailed account of our doings in the Valley, but I have not got the time. I have not received a letter from home for almost a month have only got two letters from home since I left there
We have only got one Major & one Colonel, Stuart Major 2d Regiment Colonel [unclear: Spungler] of the 33d Regiment
I must Close, may God protect you is the humble prayer of
Your Friend
C.W. Baylor
