Letter to Sarah Garibaldi (Poor)

Scope and content:

Written from "Camp Stephenson, Frederick County," Virginia. Letter regards the a battle in Winchester, Virginia.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Camp Stephenson, Frederick County, Va.
June 16, 1863

I take this blessed opportunity to drop you these few lines in order to let you know that I am well and hope when these few lines will come to hands they may find you enjoying the same blessings.

I will tell you know that I survived another storm and that it pleased God to let me come out unhurt from the battle field. We have now here in the valley about forty thousand men, the corps of Lieutenant General Ewell, and what is the object for taking us here I am not able to tell you. I know that it wasn't necessary to take opposite of forty thousand men here to whip and take seven or eight thousand yankees.

We arrived here in the valley and in the vicinity of Winchester last Saturday and surrounded the town. General Rode's Division went down to Martinsburg to cut off their reinforcement who, upon being attacked by the yankee reinforcement whipped them back and captured all their ordnance train. Sunday morning we drew closer around Winchester, that is our Division and Early's Division, and toward Sunday evening got our artillery in position and began to bombard their fortifications, but too well fortified to charge on their fortifications but we could have taken them with a heavy loss, so the commander of our corps General Ewell left a gap open thinking that they will try to get out during the night and thus make its escape, and he fell on the right plan. During Sunday night the yankee General spiked all its artillery and left every thing behind them and before they got about four miles from town they were headed our division and they had to fight us on open ground.

The battle commenced before it was clear day and lasted about an hour an half. As the enemy had left all their artillery behind them they had none to fight us with but small arms. They tryed to charge on our battery three times and repulsed each time. Then they commenced retreating and we followed, and they surrendered, five yankee regiments gave to our our brigade and surrendered. They staked arms for us, hung their accoutrements and gave themselves up to us as prisoners of war. Our brigade alone took six of their flag.

There was but few killed and wounded out of our Brigade and them were out skirmishing. None of our company got hurt. Henry Gilliland requested to tell you to tell his family that he is alright, and that he would write in a few days. John R. Hepler also requested me to tell you to let Barny Johnson know that he is well and that he would write to them in a few days. This was the cheapest victory ever was achieved yet without the loss of so many lives.

We feel very much tired out marching from around Fredericksburg to this place, and we are now under marching orders again. We cooked three days rations, and filled up our haversacks with it and we are to be ready to march by eleven o'clock.

I haven't much more to tell you at this time, only that I want you to write to me oftner than you do. Give my best respects to Lee Pursinger and family, to Barny Johnson and family and to Sarah Johnson and family and keep a portion for you, for mother and Sister Russia and Remain your affectionate husband untill death,
John Garibaldi

To Mrs. Sarah Garibalda
Direct Your letters to Winchester, Frederick County, Va.
Co. C. 27th Va. Regt Vols,
Stonewall Brigade
Care of Captain C.L. Haynes.

Subjects:

Winchester (Va.)—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
Winchester (Va.) -- History -- Siege, 1863
Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Infantry Regiment, 27th
Correspondence

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