CS CAVALRYMAN’S LETTER WRITTEN ONE DAY AFTER THE COLD HARBOR ASSAULT

CS CAVALRYMAN’S LETTER WRITTEN ONE DAY AFTER THE COLD HARBOR ASSAULT

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Item Code: 2026-1451

A superb content soldier's autograph letter signed, written in pencil and headed "Near Bottoms Bridge June 4th 1864," by Confederate cavalryman John M. Tucker to his father. Penned a single day after the catastrophic Union frontal assault at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864 — Robert E. Lee's last great victory of the war — the letter offers a vivid, firsthand Southern account of the fighting on the right of the Army of Northern Virginia's line as the Overland Campaign reached its bloody climax outside Richmond.

Writing from camp between Seven Pines and Bottom's Bridge, Tucker reports his command grazing their horses in a brief lull, with artillery still sounding toward Gaines' Mill. He describes the enemy being "repulsed" and "cut to pieces right badly," the capture of "eight hundred prisoners," and the widely repeated camp rumor that the attacking Federals had been plied with liquor before going forward: "It is said that the Yankey were all drunk. I think it is a poor [show] when they have to make their men drunk to get them to charge our works." He recounts being put to work throwing up breastworks with only shingles and boards for spades, then holding the line until the infantry came up.

The letter is rich throughout: he notes Federal possibilities of Grant crossing on the Confederate right, the presence of Richmond "city Battalions" sent down to reinforce, his hope that the summer's campaign would finally "stop the war," and a soldier's plainspoken resolve to do his duty and stay with his regiment. He recalls a costly scout down into Charles City County where "we lost good many men down thare for no purpose," mentions buying his horse from a comrade since killed, and closes with the campaign's defining sentiment: "I trust that Gen Lee will soon wind old Grant up." Signed in full, "your affectionate son, John M. Tucker."

Manuscript in pencil, fully legible, on a folded letter sheet. Shows expected period folds, light toning and soiling, and minor edge wear consistent with age; presently housed in an archival sleeve. A genuinely quotable Cold Harbor–dated Confederate cavalry letter with strong association to the close of the Overland Campaign.

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FULL TRANSCRIPTION

(Original spelling, punctuation, and grammar preserved; uncertain readings in brackets.)

Near Bottoms Bridge June 4th 1864

Dear Papa

As I have an opportunity I take a pleasure in writing to you we are now in camp between seven pines and bottoms bridge we got here thursday night we are now grazing our horses every thing seems to be quite quiet to day there has been some little firing of artilery this morning up about gains mill the enemy was repulsed up on that part of our lines on yesterday & day before from what I can hear they were cut to pieces right badly we got eight hundred prisoners It is said that the Yankey were all drunk I think it is a poor [show] when they have to make their men drunk to get them to charge our works they had us throwing up breast works thursday we had nothing to work with much we had to use shingles and boards for our spades as we could not get picks & spades for all of us to work with. we was then put in the works to hold them until the infantry could come up but we did not have much fighting to do the artilery done most of the firing but soon after we left they had pretty hot time of it I am in hopes we have had our hardest work to do though if old Grant attempts to cross his force over on our right we will get in to it again as we [are] supporting our right wing we have two or three Brigade of cavalry good deal of artilery we also have the city Batalions down here from richmond so we can give them a pretty smart fight. I am in hopes this summers campaign will stop the war for I tell you the army is no good place now though I intend to try and discharge my duty let things go as they may I have been with the regiment all the time up to now and I am going to try and keep with it. though I have been fortunate in missing some of the hottest fights but I was doing some other duty I always obey orders when I do that I always feel satisfied we have good many men not able to do duty on account of their horses backs being hurt and some of them has broken down my horse is looking pretty well yet. I got the money and paid for him without any trouble, the poor fellow I bought him from was killed when we went down in charles city on that scout we took down there. we lost good many men down thare for no purpose I think. though it all might have happened for the best. firing on our left has commenced again I trust that Gen Lee will soon wind old Grant up. I dont know how long we will stay at this place or they keep us moving the best part of our time we are doing very well at this time in the way of living well I must close for the present my love to all

I am as ever your affectionate son

John M. Tucker

[ss][ph:L]

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