1862 Civil War Letters - The Battle of Ox Hill (Chantilly)

Pvt. Henry Brown, 21st Massachusetts Volunteers, Co. F.
Leesboro, September 8, 1862
[ Just after the battles of 2nd Bull Run and Ox Hill/Chantilly ]

Dear Parents,

I thought as I had an opportunity today I would write to you. We left our encampment on 7th Street today at eleven. We kept on the same road. We marched till about five and stopped for an hour to rest. We went about a mile and stopped for the night. We came about a mile farther this morning and encamped again. It is about noon now. There is no telling how long we shall stay here. It will be safe enough to send your likeness now. Direct your letter to Washington.

While at Washington, our Captain got some stuff from the Sanitary Committee: woolen blankets, shirts, towels, handkerchiefs, Castile soap, brandy, wine pickles, bags of needles and pins, thread, buttons and all matter of trinkets useful to a soldier. These things were very acceptable. As I told you before, I threw away my woolen blanket before we got to Culpeper. At that place I bought a very nice woolen blanket for two dollars. At Bull Run we were ordered to take off our knapsacks and pile them up.

At Centerville, the knapsacks of the 34 New York, which was cut up bad at Bull Run, were brought and piled up on the ground. Everyone pitched in and got what we could. I got a bundle with two towels, two haversacks, three razors, three pairs of shears, a syringe, three pocket knives, two pillow cases, a razor strap and a lather brush.

I made a haversack of one pillow case. When we left I took three days rations of sugar, coffee and hard tack. When we met the enemy at Chantilly, we were ordered to take off everything heavy to fight better. I had to leave my haversack but I kept my blanket. Our company is pretty well off for clothing and blankets now. Not many have rubbers. These are the most useful a thing a soldier has.

The boys are gradually getting over the terrible Battle of Chantilly. It was a scene I shall never forget. It was wholesale murder to stand at the muzzle of the enemies’ guns and have a volley poured into us. I had a very narrow escape of my life and being taken prisoner. A ball passed through my collar. Our Lt. Colonel was killed.

The 35th Massachusetts Regiment has joined this brigade. It numbers over 1,000 men. It is as large as the rest of the brigade. There is a great many rumors about the Rebels being in Maryland but we don’t mind much about them.

Write as soon as you get this. Send your likeness and the weekly newspaper. I got one the other day. The payrolls have come. I guess we shall get paid soon. Goodbye for this time. My love to you all.

From your son,

Henry Brown

Editors Note : (Cont.) A week had now gone by, yet Henry and the rest of the boys were still having a hard time getting over the horror of Chantilly...

After the murderous encounter on the east side of the battlefield the survivors retreated west to regroup and help support the Union left flank. This was when General Kearny, having just arrived on the field, urged the 21st Massachusetts to advance. When the regiment was slow to respond, Kearny spurred his horse forward not realizing the Confederate line was so close in the raging storm of thunder and cannon. The gallant but reckless general was shot dead off his horse as he tried to gallop away from certain capture. As the storm continued to rage around them, the 21st Massachusetts engaged the 49th Georgia in fierce hand to hand combat with the point of the bayonet. When the battle was over and both sides had mutually withdrawn, hardly 200 soldiers were left standing in Henry's regiment.

What is striking throughout Henry's letters are his dry accounts of the battles and carnage he had witnessed. Undoubtedly he was trying to spare his family worry, but the war had changed for Henry. The odds were now against him and he knew his chances for survival were diminishing with each new battle. No longer was he the idealistic youth who thought the war would be over quickly...