American Historical Ephemera & Photography

4 pages, on bifolium, 4 7/8 x 7 15/16 in., creased at folds, with some staining throughout and additional texture/crinkling to portions of letter. On patriotic "B.F. Hulburd, Co. H, 2d Vermont Regt." letterhead. With postally used printed cover addressed to Mrs. Juliana M. Hulburd of Waterville, Vermont. 

In this letter to his wife, Hulburd writes that he does not have much time, but tries to convey the action of the past few days. In part: "I can not say much at this time about it but we gave the rebs a hard shipping on the occasion but our own loss quite severe I do not know how many killed but the Vt Brigade lost in wounded 247...The fight commenced by our Cavalry at sunrise we broke camp at one...got to the field about 1/2 past 10 formed in line of Battle & lay still near 12 under a terrible shelling. At that time we rose & charged upon them across a field say 3/4 of a mile under a perfect shower of lead & iron we soon had the fun of seeing a whole line of rebs on the run teams & all. But our Brigade got where they brought in a fire rakewise & we fell back in good order nearly 1/2 mile. The 8th & 19 Corps on our right made an advance & after a desperate fight the rebs were forced back we then advanced again & the Cavalry on our left...the way the rebs cut was a caution. We captured over 3500 prisoners & 5 pieces of artillery."

He then narrows in on a particular result of the battle that helps to relate the brutal realities of such fighting: "There were some awful sights on the field that would shock the nurses if such as are unaccustomed to witness the scenes of a battlefield. I was helping to carry back a fellow who was shot through the leg & brooke it we was as careful as we could be with him, probably hurt him some told him to keep up good pluck. Said he you do well and struck in & sung 'Rally round the flag boys Shouting the battle cry of freedom.'"

After the battle, Hulburd notes that they have followed the Confederate troops from Winchester to the place they are now located, noting that he is unsure of what will come next. Likely proud to pass it along to his wife, Hulburd mentions a dispatch received from President Lincoln "thanking Gen Sheridan & his men for the brilliant victory of the 19th of Sept."

After signing the letter, he adds a postscript dated 23 September, having fought at the Battle of Fisher's Hill the day prior: "Another great victory yesterday no time for more. After the Rebs."

Hulburd would die less than a month later on 19 October 1864, at the Battle of Cedar Creek, VA. He enlisted for the first time in November of 1861, mustering into Company E of the 7th Vermont Infantry before being discharged for disability only a year later (reason unknown). Thereafter, he re-enlisted on 5 December 1863, mustering into Company H of the 2nd Vermont Infantry later that month. It is from this unit that he writes the letter featured here.