Incredible Battle of Winchester, Battle Content and Seeing Rebel Battle Flags

Incredible Battle of Winchester, Battle Content and Seeing Rebel Battle Flags
 
Offered for sale is a rare, original three-page handwritten letter dated September 30, 1864, written from Camp at Winchester, Va. by D.J. Taft of the 82nd Pennsylvania  Infantry.
 
In this vivid eyewitness account, Taft describes the dramatic Union victory at the Battle of Winchester (Opequon) on September 19, 1864, and references the follow-up victory at Fisher’s Hill. He gives a soldier’s-eye view of the fighting, including:
•  A massive cavalry charge that “came down on them like a whirlwind,” capturing prisoners and scattering the Confederates.
•  The panicked Confederate retreat through the streets of Winchester, with soldiers “throwing away everything they could get loose (some of them having nothing whatever on excepting their pants)” and even running through houses.
•  The death of Gen. Russell (killed by a cannon ball while leading a charge) and the wounding of Gen. Upton.
•  Gen. Philip Sheridan riding up and down the lines cheering the men.
•  The gruesome aftermath: burying the dead, caring for the wounded, and picking up arms and shattered rebel battle flags.
•  Comments on the heavy loss of Confederate artillery and confidence that Sheridan’s campaign would help end the war.
The letter closes with personal matters, asking about family and friends back home, and expresses hope that Lincoln’s re-election will bring victory.
Transcriber’s note: The letter is written in clear, period handwriting on lined paper and remains highly legible. It comes from a small collection of Taft family correspondence.
 
"Camp at Winchester, Va.
Sept. 30th, 1864
Friend Calvin:
This is to inform you that I received your letter this morning, that I am still right side up and on picket, also some other facts. I suppose you have heard ere this that there has been quite a stir in the Valley of late and of its results but perhaps a few extra remarks might be of some interest to you.
We had a pretty warm time here on the 19th and I believe gave the rebs about as complete a whipping as they ever got. The fight commenced on our right soon after sunrise and when we had charged them out of their last position at Winchester it was nearly sun-down. It was the grandest sight I ever beheld. Most of the country on which the battle was fought was open which enabled us to see the whole performance of both armies.
One of the finest sights I saw was the charge of two brigades of our cavalry. They turned the left flank of the rebs lines and came down on them like a whirlwind, capturing a good squad of prisoners and scattering the rest in every direction. I suppose it was the most complete skedaddle since the war commenced. I heard an old civilian in town say that Bull Run was not to be compared with it. He said they threw away everything they could get loose (some of them having nothing whatever on excepting their pants) and rushed through the streets, alleys, yards, and even through the houses, knocking down the doors and everything else that came in their road. Some of them he said knocked themselves down by running against artillery wagons etc. which the streets were crowded. This and similar stories are told for facts and from what I have seen and heard, I have no reason to doubt their truth.
Our loss in killed and wounded was pretty heavy, but not many in prisoners. Gen. Russell, commanding our division was killed by a cannon ball or shell while leading a charge. Gen. Upton commanding the 2nd brig was wounded by a ball in the leg which left our div minus a Gen officer. Upton had command of the division after Russell fell and after he (Upton) was wounded, he was, by his order carried up to the front as our lines advanced.
When he saw the final rout of the rebels, says he “That’s glorious, now I can rest in peace.” He said he would rather had his leg shot off than lost the day. Sheridan rode up and down cheering on the men and telling them when our fellows had gained an advantage. Sheridan’s the boy for a fight, one that’s not afraid to go in at the head of his men. Our company lost about ¼ of its number in killed and wounded. I got one ball plugged through my knapsack pretty close to my upper works but done no damage other than ripping up its contents some.
Our infantry rested in and around town untill morning when they again pushed on up the valley, excepting our brigade, which was left here to bury the dead, take care of the wounded, guard the prisoners, town, etc. Most of the brigade were kept busy for three or four days, at burying the dead, caring for the wounded, and picking up the arms. The field, in places, was completely strewn with almost everything carried by a soldier. I saw at one time seven rebel battleflags bound for Harpers ferry, some of which were pretty badly shattered.
 
The rebs have been so confident of always holding Fishers hill that they gave it the name of “the Soldiers rest” but I guess what rest they got there this time didn’t do them much good. It seems that they got as badly whipped there as at Winchester and lost three or four times as much artillery.
 
Suppose Sheridan is bound for Lynchburg, and I hope he will be successful. Supply trains and reinforcements are going up through this place every day or two. This morning 7000 troops and a large wagon train left here for the front. I think this brigade will remain here as long as the army is up the Valley or as long as this place is used for a hospital and this route for supplies.
 
I think if Sheridan meets with no disaster on this expedition, it will be a pretty good blow toward closing this bloody war. And I think when Old Abe is reelected, which is about as sure as twice two makes four, it will be another great victory toward accomplishing the great work for which so many lives and greenbacks have been expended.
 
Must bring this to a halt. Write me what reg’t Sam and Mat enlisted in.
Remember me to all the folks and write again as soon as convenient.
Respectfully yours,
D. J. Taft"