American Historical Ephemera & Photography

4 pages, on bifolium, 5 x 8 in., creased at folds. With original postally used envelope addressed to Miss Eva Knapp, Warsaw, Wyoming Co., New York.

In this lengthy, detailed letter to his cousin, Henry Mix undertakes what he describes as "the only fight of importance I have been in since Williamsburg...before we commenced our famous 'Flank movement' & happened in front of Fair Oaks." 

That account, in part: "Our Company were on picket to the right of the Richmond & Williamsburg road stationed along the edge of the woods in front of our batteries three other picked men with your humble serv't were stationed on the left to watch the road the rebel pickets were stationed about 400 yards from us or about halfway thru [sic] the woods they kept hid in the bushes or crossed the road very hastily seeming somewhat afeared of the 'd-d Yankees' a little after dark or about dusk the rebels stole down to the edge of the woods & fired 15 or 20 rounds at us but at random for we would not return their fire unless they made an advance then some of them would be apt to 'bit the dust' I reckon remaining covered partially till day light we stepped boldly out out [sic] into the road as though nothing had happened the rebels could hardly believe their eyes as the [sic] peeped out from behind the trees. I walked hastily across the road & saw us watching them without firing...seeing we were not going to shoot them they became bolder & some stood out in the road watching us one of our boys moved his hat & they returned the compliment several times Taking a daily paper I unfold it went forward several rrods & asked them to exchange one fellow started to meet me with a paper but at this juncture the Adjutant General put a stop to the proceedings...Soon an order came for our Co to deploy as skirmishers & advance into the roads...Moving continuously forward I stopped to rest a little...I sat down & pondered a moment, not knowing but a rebel rebel [sic] was covering my [indecipherable]...I heard the low murmur of voices, hastily communicating the news in a whisper to the others as they came up on my right we all advancedmore cautiously...for by the side[?] of the old pine half reclining on his elbow with his back to me very busy chatting with a number of others of the same stamp that were lying behind the old pine, was a gray coated rebel. A moment I debated with myself whether or not I had better rush forward & in the suddenness of the surprise try to take them try to take them prisoners but it was but a moment, for I accidentally stepped on a twig that had the audacity to snap the rebels heard it turning his head he saw my ugly puss peering at him from the bushes only a few feet distant. I surely think he must have belonged partly to the Feline race at least he must have had some of their blood in his veins, for never saw I a person flop over grasp their gun & bring it to their eye as quick as he did but Mr Mix had a little the start of him & finding it was either rebel shoot or Mix shoot, the latter gentleman concluded to discharge his rifle first which he did Mr rebel tumbled over shrieking Oh! Johnny Johnny Johnny Johnny fainter & fainter. I could not help but pitying the poor fellow yet I had to shoot or be shot..."

William Henry Mix (1840-1922) enlisted as a private and mustered into Company K of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry in June of 1861. His service record includes his being wounded in action at Gettysburg and hospitalized at Summit House and Mower Hospitals before returning to his regiment in September of 1863. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant of Company I, 19th United States Colored Troops in January of 1864, then 1st lieutenant of Company K in June. He was listed as a POW at Petersburg, being confined at Macon, GA and Columbia, SC. He was ultimately brevetted a captain in March of 1865.