American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

JACKSON, Charles N. Autograph letter signed ("Charles L. Jackson"), as Acting Assistant Adjutant General, 1st Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, Seymour's Division. "Head Quarters 1st Brigade, July 5, 1862." 12pp, 8 x 10 in. (creasing at folds, toning). Addressed to "Mr. A.M. Byers."

ONE OF THE MOST ILLUSTRATIVE AND MOVING CIVIL WAR LETTERS WE HAVE SEEN

Lengthy letter written just four days after the conclusion of the Seven Dyas' Battles which were fought from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia. The relentless fighting included the Battles of Oak Grove, Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill, Peach Orchard and Savage's Station, Glendale and White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill. Jackson writes describing troop numbers and movements, firing, charges, men killed in action, and more, all with great specificity. Sample entry indicative of overall letter content:

"I suppose ere this time you have had full accounts of the late battles here, but none can fully describe the bloody conflict - it was terrible in the extreme...." [Gaines Mill] "I was in the woods when Col. Black of the 62nd fell - he fell leading his men - his Regiment fought nobly - in fact every man of every Regiment stood bravely to their work....The enemy finding it impossible to regain the woods, threw their whole force on our left, our weakest point made so by long continued fighting without any reinforcement, here the battle raged more fiercely than before, it was now almost dark and it became evident that one or the other must fall back - it was also evident that we could not hold out much longer - for our troops were wearied and exhausted after the battle the day before and having no sleep for twenty hours you can imagine how they felt at the close of second hard fought battle, again the enemy brought forward fresh troops, regiment after regiment closed in mass - steadily they marched onward our wearied troops seem to melt away before them, our artillery raked them with shot and shell, still on they came scattering our men in every direction - our troops were rallied and as often dispersed, again an effort was made but of no avail, and now, all thought were given up of holding our ground when suddenly loud cheering was heard to our right, the Irish Brigade are coming, new life new hope spring up within us - still the enemy came steadily on - steadily too marched the Irish Brigade but more rapidly than the foe - the Rebels halted apparently amazed, and considering prudence the best part of valor, fled in all directions towards the woods...."

The Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, commonly known as "The Pennsylvania Reserves," was a division of 15 Pennsylvania regiments originally raised in excess of the state’s quota during Lincoln’s call for volunteers in early 1861. Secretary of War Cameron was a political enemy of Pennsylvania’s Governor Curtin and refused to accept them for Federal service. Governor Curtin decided to equip and train them at state expense for the defense of the state, and legislation was passed to do so on May 15, 1861. The regiments were designated as “Pennsylvania Reserves” After a number of Union setbacks at the start of the war, the War Department realized that they needed every recruit and so in July and August of 1861 the Pennsylvania Reserves Regiments were accepted into Federal service and assigned a number as Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry from 30-43. But the men preferred their original designation of Pennsylvania Reserves. The regiments served three year enlistments which ended in June of 1864.

During the Seven Days' Battles, the Pennsylvania Reserves played a major role in blunting the Confederate forces, and they suffered heavily. The American Battlefield Trust states that: "Perhaps no other division of McClellan’s army was called upon more often to resist the Confederate attacks; certainly only one other division sustained such severe losses. Indeed, approximately one-fifth of all casualties felt by the Army of the Potomac during that week were suffered by the Pennsylvanians." The ultimate result was a Confederate victory as Lee successfully defended the Confederate capital against McClellan's forces and the Union army was forced to retreat.

HDS indicates that Charles N. Jackson of West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, enlisted on 6/19/1861 at as 1st sergeant and mustered into "B" Co. Pennsylvania 39th Infantry. He was mustered out on 6/11/1864 at Pittsburgh, PA having served has A.D.C. to Brig. Gen. Seymour as of 06/01/63. Promotions to 2nd Lieut 7/21/1861 and
1st Lieut 6/1/1863. he died in 1866 and is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Greene Twp, Trumbull Co. OH.