Item No. 0636882

In this early-war letter, Private William Schlosser of the 9th Pennsylvania Volunteers writes about the Battle of Falling Waters (Hoke’s Run) and the destruction of railroad locomotives and coal cars in Martinsburg, Virginia, by the rebels. The 9th was part of Union General Robert Patterson’s Department of Pennsylvania, whose job it was to keep Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s Confederates in the Shenandoah Valley while General Irvin McDowell’s army advanced against the rebels at Manassas. Writing on July 8 from Martinsburg, Schlosser opens with an account of Patterson’s July 2 crossing of the Potomac River. Thomas J. Jackson’s Virginia brigade would make contact with the Union force at Falling Waters before slowly withdrawing south. Schlosser writes:

I let you know that we are at Martinsburg, Va, about 13 miles from Williamsport, Md. There are about 23,000 men round this town. We crossed the Potomac on July 2nd, and went on that day about six miles yet, and then we encamped. And on July 3 we entered this town. On the first day we marched here our advance guards were attacked by the rebels at the Falling Waters. They were the 1st Wisconsin Reg. and the 11th Penn. Vols., under command of Phaon Jarrett, formerly of our county. We lost two men and seven wounded. The rebels lost about 65 men, so one of the deserters told us. The Rebellious left this town in the morning when we come in. There were about 5,000 here and between our last camp. Four deserters came to us yesterday. They told us that there are 19 regiments encamped within six miles of us. They average from 350 to 800 men to a Regt. They said that they are very poorly clothed and very poorly fed. They say there is only one good regiment there, and they are from Mississippi. They have the four-shooter rifles.

Schlosser next mentions a newspaper that Union troops had begun printing in Martinsburg:

There is a paper printed in this town since we are here. It is printed by the 2nd Penn. Vols. We came in on the 3 and on the 4th the first paper made the appearance. I have one of them. I going to bring one home, if I ever come home.

He then discusses the destruction of the railroad locomotives and equipment, which Jackson’s men had accomplished in late June. Schlosser writes:

Martinsburg is the place where the traitors have burned them engines & bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio R.R. There are 47 engines here that are all burned up, and a large bridge is burned down. There are 300 cars here loaded with coals that are burning yet. This town has about 5,000 inhabitants and is the county town of Berkeley. It has one of the nicest machine shops in this state that I saw yet. But everything is stopped now. We had few Secession flags in our field. I try to get one if I can, but in place where them did not wave, the Union flag is waving now, and long may it wave over this Old Dominion State.

In his closing paragraph he writes:

I must come to a close, as we have orders to make us ready to go out on picket guards for the next twenty-four hours, about 2 miles from our camp. Yesterday we lost our dinner by having orders that the rebels are trying to surround us. They were firing at each other on the outer posts. They were seen on us on the right and left of us, but they were only seen through spy glasses, and they went back again, and by that operation we lost our dinner. Friday we have beef. That is the first we have for the last two weeks, but we have plenty crackers. This town have 3 companies in the traitors’ army.

The letter was written on four pages of a 5” x 8” letter sheet bearing a patriotic decoration of George Washington over the verse, “First in War, first in Peace, and first in the Hearts of his Countrymen.” Excellent condition with light toning. Creased at the original folds. Schlosser’s ink andwriting is faint in places, but quite legible. The full transcript appears below.

Martinsburg, Va
July 8th 1861

Dr. C. A. Grimm

Dear Sir
I once more take the pleasure in writing a few lines to you that I am well, and I hope it will find you all the same state of health.

Further, I let you know that we are at Martinsburg, Va, about 13 miles from Williamsport, Md. There are about 23,000 men round this town. We crossed the Potomac on July 2nd, and went on that day about six miles yet, and then we encamped. And on July 3 we entered this town. On the first day we marched here our advance guards were attacked by the rebels at the Falling Waters. They were the 1st Wisconsin Reg. and the 11th Penn. Vols., under command of Phaon Jarrett, formerly of our county. We lost two men and seven wounded. The rebels lost about 65 men, so one of the deserters told us. The Rebellious left this town in the morning when we come in. There were about 5,000 here and between our last camp. Four deserters came to us yesterday. They told us that there are 19 regiments encamped within six miles of us. They average from 350 to 800 men to a Regt. They said that they are very poorly clothed and very poorly fed. They say there is only one good regiment there, and they are from Mississippi. They have the four-shooter rifles.

There is a paper printed in this town since we are here. It is printed by the 2nd Penn. Vols. We came in on the 3 and on the 4th the first paper made the appearance. I have one of them. I going to bring one home, if I ever come home.

Martinsburg is the place where the traitors have burned them engines & bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio R.R. There are 47 engines here that are all burned up, and a large bridge is burned down. There are 300 cars here loaded with coals that are burning yet. This town has about 5,000 inhabitants and is the county town of Berkeley. It has one of the nicest machine shops in this state that I saw yet. But everything is stopped now. We had few Secession flags in our field. I try to get one if I can, but in place where them did not wave, the Union flag is waving now, and long may it wave over this Old Dominion State.

I must come to a close, as we have orders to make us ready to go out on picket guards for the next twenty-four hours, about 2 miles from our camp. Yesterday we lost our dinner by having orders that the rebels are trying to surround us. They were firing at each other on the outer posts. They were seen on us on the right and left of us, but they were only seen through spy glasses, and they went back again, and by that operation we lost our dinner. Friday we have beef. That is the first we have for the last two weeks, but we have plenty crackers. This town have 3 companies in the traitors’ army.

Excuse my writing. I wrote fast. Give my best respect to all inquiring friends. Particular to Mr. Schneck & Lady, & R. A. Laub & Lady, and Uncle Probst.
Yours Respty &c.
William H. Schlosser
Martsinsburg, Va