Augusta County: Thaddeus A. Hatcher to Mary Anna Sibert,
December 24, 1861
Summary:
Thaddeus Hatcher writes to Mary Sibert about the death of his cousin Clinton Hatcher. He
mentions a tribute to be published in the Washingtonian, the particulars of his fatal injury in
battle, and his last words. Hatcher promises to send copies of the tribute to Sibert and to
plant a rose as she requested.
On, on to the rescue, the Vandals are coming--
Go meet them with bayonet, sabre and
spear;
Drive them back to the desolate land they are leaving--
Go, trusting in God,
you'll have nothing to fear.
Confederate States of America
December 24 th 1861
Miss Mary A. Sibert
On, on to the rescue, the Vandals are coming--
Go meet them with bayonet, sabre and
spear;
Drive them back to the desolate land they are leaving--
Go, trusting in God,
you'll have nothing to fear.
Confederate States of America
On the 15 th of the [unclear: present] month I received a note from [illeg.] containing a tribute of respect to my much lamented cousin Clinton Hatcher with a request to have it published in one of the Leesburg papers which request I complied with so far as I was able.
I took it to the Editor of the Washingtonian and he gave me a promise to have it published in the next issue of his paper but it failed to appear for reasons entirely unknown to me.
I will see him before the next issue and learn the cause of it being delayed and will forward the copies desired immediately after its appearance.
You asked for particulars concerning his death.
I will give them so far as I know them. He fought like a hero all day with his company and in
the evening
[page 2]
in making a charge on the enemy he rushed on and became separated from
his company and fell in with the Hillsborough Border Guards where he
did good service until just at dark when my Brother who fought with him during the day and was
then detailed to bring off our [illeg.]
[illeg.] Howitzers saw him and Clinton waved his hat to him and cheered him on.
The fight was just [unclear: closing] and Clinton going on to the river bank, when within thirty yards of the bluffs the enemy discharged one more and the last volley when Clinton fell with a ball shot through his heart.
His last words were come on Boys let's give them one more charge. He fought fearlessly and well, but poor fellow, I fear he was too rash.
I sometimes think if he had have had less courage he would not have been killed.
He thought it his duty to defend to the uttermost his native country and in so doing sacrificed his life.
Poor Clinton, He sleeps his last [deleted: sleep] long happy sleep May he rest in peace I will plant the rose as you requested.
Your sympathetic friend
Thaddeus A. Hatcher
P. S. [illeg.] was directed 8
th
Reg. Va. Vol. [illeg.] forwarded to Centerville and as I was not in the service
it had to be returned to Leesburg before I received it. My office
is
Hamilto
Loudoun Co. Va.
