Dated, “Chickahominy Valley, Virginia, May 2, 1862.” Addressed to Miss Kate Missimer /Jersey Shore /Lycoming Co, Penna. 6 pages in ink, 5” x 8, on stationary w/attractive print of Washington Monument, Baltimore. Exhibits fold-marks, else VG.

Aaron Newton Missimer was born in 1836 in Antes Fort, Lycoming County, PA; he enlisted as a bugler and mustered into “B” Co., 8^th PA Cavalry, 8/1/1861. At the close, on 7/24/1865 he transferred into Co. “F”, 161^st PA Infy. (date and method of discharge unknown.) Attached to Army of the Potomac Cavalry Corps, participating in all the Campaigns of the AOP from the 1862 Peninsula Campaign through Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, including the Seven Days, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine run, and Sailor’s Creek. Mustered out by consolidations with the 16^th PA Cavalry, 7/24/1865. During service it lost 60 men killed and mortally wounded and 128 by disease for a total of 188.

In this interesting letter dated May 21^st, just prior to the Battle of Seven Pines, Bugler Missimer writes at length of the capture / rescue of New Jersey native forced into serving with the 4^th Texas.  Only 12 miles from Richmond he confidently predicts being there within a week. Concluding with blistering rebuttal of a New York Times rebuttal of a New times report critiquing his “retreating” regiment. As follows:

“We left Hampton soon after I wrote to you and took up a march for Yorktown. We found it in splendid fighting condition. They had a fort from which they could cut our army badly but it seems they are very much afraid of our Gun Boats….I think they are satisfied they can’t likc the yankees although they have claimed a Victory in every Battle of late; this I learn from a prisoner we captured last last Sunday. He was a member of the 4^th Texas, a native of new jersey, has been in the south since the year ‘58.

He is a professor of language and wished to remain neutral but was denyed that privilege and forced to take up arms against his own people, which he says was damned hard. He was then taken from the ranks to act as a courier for General Beauregard and also for Gen. Smith. He served in this capassity until his horse fell on him and crippled him so badly that he got his discharge.

He then went to Texas where he was taken a second time. He showed his discharge papers but they still incisted on his going. He still hestiated but they only gave him his choice either to hang or take up arms. He expressed a strong desire to see  Gen. McClellan. He says he can tell him something that can be of use to him.

The way we came to get him was on Saturday we were in the advance, and he says that we crowded them so hard they couldn’t take him [because] he was sick and had to be hauled in an ambulance. He was told they would put him in a Negroes’ house and that when we come we would cut his throat, but says he, old fellow, I know the Yankees better than you do.

We found the poor fellow in bed, and the first thing he said when we come in was will you give me something to eat. He had tears in his eyes. He was asked if he would go to headquarters with us. He got up immediately and took his blanket and I carryed  them to headquarters….

Yesterday we made another advance about two miles from where we lay yesterday. The Rebels are just across the Chickahominy Creek from us, but they are falling back. They brought in 24 prisoners of the Louisiana Tigers and unless they make a strong stand we will be there in a week. We have heard a rumor that that Gen Beauregard had surrendered to Gen. Halleck 27,000 men. We are anxious to hear of its confirmation.

I understand that the N.Y. Times gives our regiment fits for retreating when fired upon by a musket. Probably if the editor had been there he would set us an example. We would wish everyone to understand that we have been taught to obey orders of our colonel and I think he is about as competent of judging of our situation as the editor is of what Cavalry could do with a battery in a thick pine woods such as this country is.

I must now close. I remain your affectionate brother / A.N. Missimer.”

Missimer resided in Salladasburg, Lycoming County, PA following the war and was a photographer by profession. He died on 3/22/99 and is buried in Wildwood Cemetery in Williamsport, PA.

Excellent letter by a spirited and observant Bugler of the 8^th PA in the thick of the 1862 Peninsula Campaign (riding straight into the Battles of Mechanicsville and Gaines Mill just ahead). In protective sleeve. [jp/ld][ph:L]

Inquire About UNION SOLDIER LETTER WITH COVER - BUGLER A. N. MISSIMER [MESSEIMER, MESSIMER], CO. “B”, 8TH PA CAVALRY

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