Wainwright, Charles Shiels (1826-1907) to Henry Jackson Hunt
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02382.031 Author/Creator: Wainwright, Charles Shiels (1826-1907) Place Written: Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 May 1864 Pagination: 2 p. ; 13.5 x 8.5 cm. Order a Copy
Field dispatch, written at 8 a.m., re battle of Spotsylvania Court House, during main Union assault, which was preceded by heavy artillery bombardment, directed by Hunt. Written at 8 AM. Colonel Wainwright writes to Hunt, Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Writes that General Gouverneur K. Warren "insists on a much more rapid firing than I think my supply of rifled ammunition can stand." Notes that General George Gordon Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, informed Warren of the location of a large supply of ammunition. Asks if he can obtain ammunition within several miles. Says "The enemy have not fired over 150 shots at us, making excellent practice." Possibly written in Virginia. 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. Taking part in the Peninsular 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 received a brevet brigadier generalship in 1864 for the campaign and was mustered out on 21 June 1865.
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.
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