Dated “Camp of 2d Mass Regt near Leesburg, Va/ June 22^d 1863.” With accompanying cover [3 x 5”, chipped & tattered] addressed to “Mr. Moses C. Morgan/ Lynn/ Mass.”, with three cent US stamp post-dated, “Washington/ June 25/ 1863.”  Six page letter in ink, measuring 4.75 x 8”. Exhibits light yellowing while remaining entirely legible.

William Morgan was a 33 year-old mariner who enlisted as a private in Co. “C”, 2^nd Mass. Infy, 7/28/1862. He was wounded at Gettysburg’s Culp’s Hill, 7/3/1863, and re-enlisted 12/31/1863. Morgan received promotions to corporal and sergeant and mustered out with his unit, 7/14/1865.  His regiment was organized in late May 1861 and, from the 1862 Peninsula Campaign onward, would participate in most of major battles of the Army  of the Potomac, including  would participate in most of the major battles of the Army of the Potomac, including Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where William Morgan was wounded at the base of Culp’s Hill.  Mustered out in July 1865, the unit lost 190 killed and mortally wounded and 98 men by disease for a total of 288.

Morgan was a well-educated and highly articulate soldier. This letter, written during the Union pursuit of Lee into Pennsylvania, contains content on the Battle of the Brandy Station, and operations in tandem  with the 3^rd Wisconsin. Text:

“Dear Brother/   Seventeen days have elapsed since I wrote you from Stafford Court House, since which we had quite a tramp. We left the Court House about a hour after my letter was mailed 7 P.M. Saturday, June 6^th, in a heavy shower. We marched to Hardwood Church, a distance of 12 miles and rested from 3 O’clock A.M. til 7 when we stared again, and at 4 P.M. bivouacked at Bealton Station, making 32 miles in less than 24 hours. Stopped at the station till nearly night when we started for Beverly Ford and bivouacked on half mile from the Ford. No fires allowed. Reveille at 4 O’clock Tuesday morning, crossed the river at 5, the cavalry crossing ahead of us, marched one mile from the ford into a piece of  heavy timber, where we formed in line of battle on the left of the 3^rd Wis[consin], we being the only two regiment from our corps [the 12^th]. After lying about ½ an hour we were sent out as skirmishers by company, leaving two companies with the cotlers and continued skirmishing with the enemy and supporting batteries  till 12 when the rebs turned tail too and well didn’t stop to say good by. Our Cavalry done some splendid fighting. In fact they made some of the best charges of this or any other war. And I tell you ! It was a sight to do you good. [As the old woman says]  but with us it was rather dull work, laying behind trees, fences, and whatever would afford a shelter. Popping at their artillery, men or sharp shooters when ever one showed his head or whereabouts by the smoke their rifles. But this suits the 3^rd’s Boys better than it does us. They have some extra marksmen and that day won praise from all by their splendid firing. But our fellows ain’t  bad.  One com under command of August Fox silenced one battery. Not giving them a chance to fire after they had loaded their gun for nearly an hour picking off every man that showed his head.  We had only one killed and about a dozen wounded. The 3^rd lost 40 killed and wounded at 4 pm. We re-crossed the river and bivouacked  for the night. The next day we lay at Bealton Station all day and the next, when I saw the 12^th Mass on their way to Centerville. I saw Levi Robinson, Col. Allen and Capt. Cook. Jo Carter was with the Regt. but I did not see him. The next day we and the 3^rd started on our own hook, or rather Gen. Ames formed his corps (the 11^th) and we were ordered to Catlett Station ten miles where we arrived at 11 AM and rested.

And from that time till Tuesday afternoon we were on the march. Every day, marching from 15 to 20 miles a day, when we joined our corps at Fairfax Court House, and rested till the next morning when we started again taking the Leesburg pike, marching to Darnestown and bivouacked. That night I was on picket. Next morning started for Leesburg. This day was hottest day we have experience on a march. Hundreds dropped out an a number were sun struck, but one from our regt. one of our own com shot himself accidently today through the hand. That Junkie a German. At 4 o’clock we forded Goose Creek in the heaviest thunder shower I have seen for years. The water was up to our middle in the creek, but it made no difference for the rain wet us through in five minutes. About dark we bivouacked 1 mile the other side of Leesburg on a hill, under earth works built by the rebs and called Fort Beauregard. I think. And remain here yet. Yesterday I went outside the pickets with a squad of 6 men foraging. And done very well. We got one yearling about 80 lbs. Butter, 3 dozen eggs, 10 ducks, 5 chicken, prices are follows. Beefe 8 cts pr. lb, Butter 20 cts. 3 Small 121/2 a piece. Ducks 25. Ham 12 ½ pr. lb. milk 10 cts. Quart. And if we had only been paid off we might live now. There is no marauding permitted, but when we out. Well you can bet we don‘t go hungry.

Leesburg is a very pretty town situated among a range of hill called the Kitt Greten Mountains. The highest of which, we and the third Third Wis[consin] occupy  with six pieces of Artillery, from the 1^st N.Y. and Bess’s 4 U.S. Batteries. And this we intend to hold til Jo [Gen. Joe Hooker] orders us off. But if there is a fight here, Leesburg will catch fitts, and I hope it will, for a worse hole for grurellin [guerillas] can’t be found in this state.  But time alone will tell what’s going to happen. But one thing is sure, we will have plenty of work this summer. But we are able and willing, so let her slide. I got a letter Norris and one from Amanda , yesterday. Tell them I theirs as soon as possible.

Give My Love to M.A. and tell her I’ll try and find a name for the baby if I go out foraging tomorrow. I wrote Eliza yesterday. Give my to all, and if you see Jim tell I will write him if I have a chance. Yours in fine health and Spirit/ Foster”

Superb soldier letter, from a Union regiment engaged at Brandy Station in the midst of the Union pursuit of Lee to Gettysburg, where its author would be wounded at the base of Culp’s Hill. In protective sleeve. Accompanied by brief amount of research material.

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