Wainwright, Charles Shiels (1826-1907) to Henry Jackson Hunt
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02382.030 Author/Creator: Wainwright, Charles Shiels (1826-1907) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 May 1864 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 12.2 x 9.7 cm. Order a Copy
Reports the status of artillery supplies during Spotsylvania campaign. Written in pencil on a very small piece of paper. Written from the General Artillery Brigade, 5th Corps.
A wealthy farmer who had traveled through Europe and studied artillery there, Charles S. Wainwright put his knowledge to good use during the Civil War. He spent the beginning of the war drilling his batteries and on a board weeding out incompetent artillery officers. Taking part in the Peninsula Campaign he was promoted to command the regiment after the death of Colonel Guilford Bailey at Seven Pines. On leave at the time, he missed the Seven Days but served creditably at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. He had already received a brevet brigadier generalship in 1864 for the campaign to that point when he was mustered out on 21 June 1865. Hunt served as Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.
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