Letter from John W White, Civil War, May 1862

Letter From John W. White

Chenango American, May 29, 1862

Camp, Near West Point, Va,
May 14, 1862

I will tell you something of the fight at Williamsburgh, for I was there and saw some of it myself.  Our advance guard had skirmishes with the enemies rear guard at times, all the way from Yorktown to Williamsburgh, which place we reached about dark. The next morning, (Monday) the fight commenced and raged with unabated fury all day.  Had they met us in an open field we could have whipped them in double quick time, but instead of that the cowardly traitors felled about 10 acres of heavy timber in front of their batteries, and among the fallen timer was our battle field. the guns of their batteries commanded the road on either side, the timber lay so thick that our artillery could not advance, while theirs could play upon us all the time.  Hooker's Division of 12,000 men held them at bay all day; their force being at least 80,000.  Had not Hancock's Division reinforced us just as they did, about five o'clock in the evening, I believe the day would have been lost; in fact we were completely whipped, but being ignorant of the fact, we maintained our position.  When our brigade took the field the Rebels were driving everything before them. Whole regiments were running from the field, and the Rebels were hallooing--BULL RUN, Bull Run!  at the top of their voices. But I shall always believe that had it not been for the firmness of the Sickles' Brigade, it would have been a compete Bull Run affair.  A Rebel Captain, who was wounded and taken prisoner by some of our boys, said they (the Rebels) had it all their own way until the d----d Sickles' Brigade come up. They made a desperate stand and with the position and numbers they had, we must have been whipped, had it not been that there is a just God who will help the right.  There were eight killed in my company, and six missing, who we suppose were killed--a number more were wounded.  

My Captain was badly wounded but I think he will recover.  He was shot through both legs and both shoulders, and lay on the field all night.  It rained all day and all night, which made it doubly severe for us.  Just imagine to yourself a lot of men fighting all day in the rain and then being obliged to lay down at night on the wet ground, in their wet clothes, without blankets or tents, to spend the night, and you have the picture of those who were engaged in the fight at Williamsburgh.  I have often read of the horrid appearance of the battle field the next day after a battle, but no one can imagine half its terribleness until they see it themselves.  I will not attempt to describe it, but may God grant that I may never be obliged to witness another such a scene.

We are now encamped about four miles from West Point, and have been here three days. What we are waiting for I do not know, but I suppose Gen. McClellan does. We are told the Rebels are fortifying themselves in a great swamp between here and Richmond. Gen. McClellan says he has got them just where he wants them, so you may expect soon to hear that Secession is played out.

The country which we have traveled over the last few weeks is very beautiful. The soil is of a sandy nature and only needs Yankee cultivation to make it a perfect garden.  I have seen some of the most splendid peach orchards that any one can imagine, and a few weeks ago, when they were in full bloom, they looked very beautiful.  It is getting pretty warm down here, and the dust is now as abundant as the mud was a short time ago.

I am well, and hope through the protection of a merciful Providence to soon be permitted to meet my friends at home.

Yours as ever,

John W. White.
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From Adjutant Report for 74th New York Volunteer Infantry
WHITE, JOHN W.:  Age 26 years.  Enlisted, June 15, 1861, at Greene, to serve three years; mustered in as sergeant, Co. C, July 7, 1861; promoted first Sergeant, December 17, 1861; killed in action, August 29, 1862, at Bull Run, Va.

Another letter from John W White was posted to this blog on Aug. 15, 2019