An 8 page letter from one of the Confederacy’s units graphically describing the battle of Manassas… it doesn’t get much better than this!  The letter is in pencil – obviously as they just got done chasing the Yankee’s back to Washington!  The cover however postmarked “Fairfax C. H., Va. Oct. 8” with a manuscript “Due 5” is in ink.  The cover is addressed to Mr. Daniel Setzer in Farmville, Va.  On the front of the cover in nice dark ink: 


                                                                                                                                “Private G. M. Setzer

Company F, 18 Regt. Va. Volunteers”

·         “I was 4 miles below Fairfax Court House on last Wednesday morning when the Yankees marched
on that place I was on picket at the time they got within 100 yards of us before we run we were in the
woods at the time and they did not see us.  They fired into the woods all the time and cut the limbs off
over our heads.” 

·         “The Yankees stayed all night at Centerville and all of us stayed at Bull’s Run.  The next morning
 they marched on Bull’s Run at Mitchell’s Ford.  Our regiment was about 2 miles higher up the run on
the left and was not in the fight.  They were repulsed 3 times in the first fight.  They fought 7 hours. 
Their loss was 9 hundred killed, ours was 100 killed.” 

·         “They fell back on Centerville.  They sent a white flag back to bury their dead and instead of doing
 it they planted a masked battery on the hill.  We laid in the woods all day the first fight expecting to
 be attacked every minute.  We could hear the balls artillery all the time.” 

·         “They rested till Sunday morning and then marched on us at the Stone Bridge about ¼ of a mile
above where our regiment was guarding another ford.  The fight began about 7 o’clock and lasted till
four.  Our regiment was the last regiment in the fight.  We did not fire but 2 or 3 rounds a piece.  We
charge on their battery of Rifleman and took it.  It was Sherman’s battery from Rhode Island.  
Captain Wall turned it on them and they began to retreat.  Our regiment followed them up for two
 miles.”  

·         “I never heard bullets whistle so in my life before.  The bomb shells burst all around us.  Our
regiment was laying in a little hollow when Arthur Wilson was killed I was laying about 4 feet from
him when he was killed.  He raised up his head a little to look over the rise, the ball struck him in
the top of his head and came out of his ear.  He never spoke a word.” 

·         “The Alexandria artillery and about 2,000 Cavalry followed up the retreat of the enemy cutting
 them all to pieces.  They broke and run for miles through the woods.  They threw their arms all away.  
They even throughed off their cartridge boxes.  We got all their artillery.  They had about 60 pieces of
rifled cannon and one Armstrong gun which alone cost $10,000.  We got about 10,000 stand of small
 arms.  We got all their baggage, wagons and ambulances and everything they had.  They did not step
 this side of the Alexandria and most of them kept on to Washington...”
 

·         “…they are scattered around dead for 10 miles through the woods they did not even return to bury
their dead. We got at least $2,000,000 worth of property.  I never saw the like of things in my life. 
Their loss was 10,000 killed, wounded and taken prisoners.  Our loss was about 2,500 killed and
wounded.  I went over the battlefield the next day, it was a most awful sight to witness.  General Rosser
 says it was the hardest ever was fought in America.  We have possession of Vienna, Fall’s Church and
Fairfax Court House there is not a Yankee this side of Alexandria.  They acknowledge that they are
badly whipped…”  

For the Manassas/Confederate collector of great letters, it doesn’t get any better than this!

#CG174VA - Price $1,095

         Transcription:

                                                                                                                        Near Centerville July 25

Dear Father and Mother,

            I take my seat today to let you know that I am well at present and hope
these few lines may find you all well.  This is the first opportunity I have had to
write to you since I left Fairfax Court House.  I was 4 miles below Fairfax Court
House on last Wednesday morning when the Yankees marched on that place I was
 on picket at the time they got within 100 yards of us before we run we were in the
woods at the time and they did not see us.  They fired into the woods all the time
and cut the limbs off over our heads.  We made good time to the Court House.  We
got there about ½ an hour before they did and got with our regiment.  We were all
drawled up in line of battle and waited till they got in sight of us.  Before we begun
 to retreat there was not a gun fired on our side.  It was all a made up thing for us
to retreat to bait them onto Bull’s Run.  We retreated in good order from Fairfax
Court House and did not lose a thing.  There was not but 8 or 9 regiments of us at
that place.  Our baggage wagon broke down about ½ a mile below Centerville and
we would have lost all of our baggage if it had not have been for Mr. Bruce.  He
stayed there till he could get another wagon.  The Yankees stayed all night at
Centerville and all of us stayed at Bull’s Run.  The next morning they marched on
 Bull’s Run at Mitchell’s Ford.  Our regiment was about 2 miles higher up the run
on the left and was not in the fight.  They were repulsed 3 times in the first fight. 
They fought 7 hours.  Their loss was 9 hundred killed, ours was 100 killed.  They
fell back on Centerville.  They sent a white flag back to bury their dead and instead
of doing it they planted a masked battery on the hill.  We laid in the woods all day
 the first fight expecting to be attacked every minute.  We could hear the balls
artillery all the time.  They rested till Sunday morning and then marched on us at
the Stone Bridge about ¼ of a mile above where our regiment was guarding another
 ford.  The fight began about 7 o’clock and lasted till four.  Our regiment was the last
 regiment in the fight.  We did not fire but 2 or 3 rounds a piece.  We charge on their
 battery of Rifleman and took it.  It was Sherman’s battery from Rhode Island.  
Captain Wall turned it on them and they began to retreat.  Our regiment followed
them up for two miles.  I never heard bullets whistle so in my life before.  The bomb
shells burst all around us.  Our regiment was laying in a little hollow when Arthur
Wilson was killed I was laying about 4 feet from him when he was killed.  He raised
up his head a little to look over the rise, the ball struck him in the top of his head and
came out of his ear.  He never spoke a word.  He lived till 11 o’clock at night.  Nat
Jackson and Wm. Anderson started home with him next day.  The Alexandria artillery
 and about 2,000 Cavalry followed up the retreat of the enemy cutting them all to
pieces.  They broke and run for miles through the woods.  They threw their arms all
away.  They even throughed off their cartridge boxes.  We got all their artillery.  They
 had about 60 pieces of rifled cannon and one Armstrong gun which alone cost $10,000. 
We got about 10,000 stand of small arms.  We got all their baggage, wagons and
ambulances and everything they had.  They did not step this side of the Alexandria and
most of them kept on to Washington but they are scattered around dead for 10 miles
through the woods they did not even return to bury their dead. We got at least
$2,000,000 worth of property.  I never saw the like of things in my life.  Their loss was
10,000 killed, wounded and taken prisoners.  Our loss was about 2,500 killed and
wounded.  I went over the battlefield the next day, it was a most awful sight to witness.  
General Rosser says it was the hardest ever was fought in America.  We have possession
of Vienna, Fall’s Church and Fairfax Court House there is not a Yankee this side of
 Alexandria.  They acknowledge that they are badly whipped about half of them crossed
 over to Washington city.  General Scott had a cannon pointed at them to keep the rest
 of this side of the river else everyone of them would had left the state.  My shoes and
pants are about wore out, I would like for your to send me a pair of each if you can get
 the shoes plenty large so they won’t hurt my feet it don’t matter what kind of goods
the pants are made out of so it will last.  Nothing more at present.  

                                                                                                                    G. M. Setzer