Item No. 3273317

Second Lieutenant Cadmus M. Amoss of Cobb’s Georgia Legion wrote this letter home to his wife on April 21, 1862, during the federal siege of Yorktown during the Peninsula Campaign. In the letter Amoss discusses the “stirring times we have had,” including the April 16 skirmish at Dam No. 1 on the Warwick River. The dam was one of three ordered built by Confederate General John Magruder in order to create lakes to obstruct the Union Army’s advance. The men of General Howell Cobb’s Brigade had been improving the defenses around Dam No. 1 on April 16 when Union troops of General William F. “Baldy” Smith’s division launched a probing attack. Amoss writes:

the enemy commenced shelling our batteries placed at dam no. 1 about a quarter of a mile above us. The shelling continued without intermission all the morning, doing little or no damage. Our company was stationed behind a breastwork at dam no. 2. At three o’clock in the afternoon the yankees sent over three picked companies to charge one of the rifle pits a little below dam no. 1 at which the 15th N.C. Regiment was at work. This regiment, having no guns to fight with, were driven from the pits by the yankees, who charged over them. The Seventh Georgia was then ordered to charge the yankees, which they did with a loud shout. The yankees could not stand before them, but fell precipitously into the pond through which they had waded. Twenty or thirty were killed and a great number wounded. The enemy attacked us at two or three other points, but were repulsed with considerable loss every time. The regiments that bore the brunt of the battle that day was the Seventh, Eighth, and Sixteenth Georgia and Second Louisiana. Our regiment was situated at different points. Our company was fired on several times across the pond about two hundred yds by yankees behind trees. No one hurt in the Legion. The enemy dismounted one of our largest guns that day. Our entire loss was sixteen killed and about sixty wounded. The enemy’s loss in killed and wounded is estimated at three hundred.

He adds his own personal observation that he was “perfectly surprised at the noise and uproar made on that day. The whole world would tremble with the roar of artillery and musketry.” With the fighting over his company “remained in the breastworks a day and night for four days after the battle.” Thankful for some small time to rest, Amoss notes that he had visited with several friends from home including Lieutenant Colonel Gustavus Adolphus Bull of the 35th Georgia, who would be mortally wounded at Seven Pines just five weeks later.

Writing of the situation on the Peninsula, Amoss writes:

There is at least twenty thousand Georgians here and if the yankees come over they will meet with a warm reception from them. The yankees sent over a flag of truce to bury their dead day before yesterday. I was up there at the time and saw about thirty of them carried over. They were all well uniformed and had the minnie musket. Nearly all of them were shot through the head. Several letters were found about the persons of the yankees, one of which was from a brother of the one killed who lived at Quebec, Canada. The writer was of the opinion that the south could not be conquered and wished the war would come to a close. The regiment that charged our breastworks was the Third Vermont and the company of which nearly all were killed was [of] the Vermont volunteers. I have no idea when they will attack us again. They are here in great force, but I think we will whip them every time they attempt to cross over the creek.

In another personal observation Amoss describes the music heard across the lines. “We hear their brass bands and drums every night,” he writes. “I never had sweeter music than they have over the creek from us about a half mile.” Near the end of the letter he expresses his anxiousness to return to his wife and young son. “If they intend doing anything I wish they would commence at once so that we may fight it out and quit,” he writes, closing the letter with “kiss Henry for me.”

Amoss would survive the campaign, but that September he would be mortally wounded—shot through the lungs at the Battle of Crampton’s Gap in Maryland. With Cobb’s Legion on the retreat, Amoss fell into the hands of the enemy. He was cared for at a Burkittsville hospital and died on September 27, 1862.

The letter was written on four pages of a 7 1/2” x 9 1/4” bifolium letter sheet. The paper is very lightweight, typical of Confederate quality. Excellent condition with light toning. Creased at the original mailing folds. The full transcript follows:

Camp Near Lee’s Mills, York Co. Virginia
April 21st 1862

My Dear Georgia,
This is the only opportunity I have had of writing to you since my last letter and I am glad to have a few moments leisure in which to give you an account of the stirring times we have had. Last Wednesday the enemy commenced shelling our batteries placed at dam no. 1 about a quarter of a mile above us. The shelling continued without intermission all the morning, doing little or no damage. Our company was stationed behind a breastwork at dam no. 2. At three o’clock in the afternoon the yankees sent over three picked companies to charge one of the rifle pits a little below dam no. 1 at which the 15th N.C. Regiment was at work. This regiment, having no guns to fight with, were driven from the pits by the yankees, who charged over them. The Seventh Georgia was then ordered to charge the yankees, which they did with a loud shout. The yankees could not stand before them, but fell precipitously into the pond through which they had waded. Twenty or thirty were killed and a great number wounded. The enemy attacked us at two or three other points, but were repulsed with considerable loss every time. The regiments that bore the brunt of the battle that day was the Seventh, Eighth, and Sixteenth Georgia and Second Louisiana. Our regiment was situated at different points. Our company was fired on several times across the pond about two hundred yds by yankees behind trees. No one hurt in the Legion. The enemy dismounted one of our largest guns that day. Our entire loss was sixteen killed and about sixty wounded. The enemy’s loss in killed and wounded is estimated at three hundred.

I was perfectly surprised at the noise and uproar made on that day. The whole world would tremble with the roar of artillery and musketry.

Our regiment remained in the breastworks day and night for four days after the battle. We were relieved yesterday morning by another regiment. I am perfectly worn out with loss of rest. I forgot to tell you that the enjoyment lasted four hours. Nearly all the troops that were at Manassas are here. I have seen a great many acquaintances recently. Gus Bacon and John McLendon are here. Reuben Jordan is also here. Yesterday evening I met up with Guss Bull. He is Lieut Col of the 35 Georgia. Virgil Hopson is in the same regiment.

Yesterday evening Gus Bacon and John McLendon came down to see me. They were nearly perished and are here without overcoats or blankets. I gave them plenty of ham and biscuits which they relished amazingly. There is at least twenty thousand Georgians here and if the yankees come over they will meet with a warm reception from them. The yankees sent over a flag of truce to bury their dead day before yesterday. I was up there at the time and saw about thirty of them carried over. They were all well uniformed and had the minnie musket. Nearly all of them were shot through the head. Several letters were found about the persons of the yankees, one of which was from a brother of the one killed who lived at Quebec, Canada. The writer was of the opinion that the south could not be conquered and wished the war would come to a close. The regiment that charged our breastworks was the Third Vermont and the company of which nearly all were killed was [of] the Vermont volunteers. I have no idea when they will attack us again. They are here in great force, but I think we will whip them every time they attempt to cross over the creek.

We hear their brass bands and drums every night. I never had sweeter music than they have over the creek from us about a half mile.

If they intend doing anything I wish they would commence at once so that we may fight it out and quit. I am exceedingly anxious to hear from you but am afraid your letters cannot reach me. If anyone should come to this point from Atlanta I will try to let you know in time. One of your letters directed to Suffolk was handed me about the first of last week. I was truly glad to learn that you were well up to that time. Since I have been thinking about it there is a chance of getting a letter from you. It may be lost on the way but rather than not hear from you at all I think it would be well to risk writing. At all events write to me and direct your letter to Yorktown as before.

I will write again as soon as an opportunity presents itself. Give my love to all the family and kiss Henry for me.
Your affectionate husband
C.M. Amoss