Item No. 3783251

This letter was written on October 28, 1864, by a member of the 6th South Carolina Volunteers in the aftermath of the Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road. From a position along the Williamsburg Road just three miles from Richmond, the soldier writes to his friend C. Scott Wilson of the same regiment, who had previously been wounded and was recuperating at home. He describes the initial faze of the battle along the Darbytown Road, before scouts reported Union troops attempting to move around the rebel left flank along the Williamsburg Road:

Yesterday we had a lively time in front of our lines. About daybreak, the yankees commenced firing and advancing on our picket lines on the Darbytown road & Charles city road first. […] after a little, the firing along the whole line was an incessant firing. Our scouts brought in the report that the Yankees were moving towards our left, down towards the Williamsburg road. It now became evident that the enemy was only making a demonstration in our font, for to effect a flank movement on our left. But the rebels are not to be taken in that, but are as cunning as their Yanky friends.

He then writes how Confederate troops belonging to Bratton’s Brigade and Gregg’s Brigade raced to the Williamsburg in time to drive the Federals back:

Accordingly, our friend Col. Gary Bratton’s & Gregg’s Brigades were double quicked to the left. It proved to be a race running between our men & the Yanks. The Yanks got there a little before our men, but most of them were captured, killed, & driven back. Our Brigade alone (so is the report) captured over 400 or 500 prisoners and stand of colors. 8 stands of colors were captured in all. Our casualties are very small. I only heard of 1 man killed & one wounded in the 5th Regt.

At the conclusion he states that a star from the flag of the 96th New York was enclosed with the letter.

The letter was signed, however the signature is extremely difficult to make out. Further research could reveal his identity.

The letter was part of the Wilson family archive of Chester, South Carolina.

The letter was written on two sides of sheet of rag paper measuring about 5” x 7 1/2”. Creased at the original folds. Some minor paper loss as seen in the scans. Includes the original postal cover with 10-cent Confederate stamp on the verso. The full letter transcript appears below.

Williamsburg road, 3 miles from Richmond
Oct. 28th 1864

Dear Scott
Yesterday we had a lively time in front of our lines. About daybreak, the yankees commenced firing and advancing on our picket lines on the Darbytown road & Charles city road first. […] after a little, the firing along the whole line was an incessant firing. Our scouts brought in the report that the Yankees were moving towards our left, down towards the Williamsburg road. It now became evident that the enemy was only making a demonstration in our font, for to effect a flank movement on our left. But the rebels are not to be taken in that, but are as cunning as their Yanky friends. Accordingly, our friend Col. Gary Bratton’s & Gregg’s Brigades were double quicked to the left. It proved to be a race running between our men & the Yanks. The Yanks got there a little before our men, but most of them were captured, killed, & driven back. Our Brigade alone (so is the report) captured over 400 or 500 prisoners and stand of colors. 8 stands of colors were captured in all. Our casualties are very small. I only heard of 1 man killed & one wounded in the 5th Regt.

Our success has been a brilliant one yesterday.

Please give this star to my friend Miss S___. It is from a flag captured last night, 96 N.Y.
All well.
Yours very sincerely
[signature illegible]