Near Strasburg, Sept. 21, '64.
I write to you, rather than to your Father, to tell you that
poor Billy was mortally wounded in the fight of Monday. I know how badly you
will all feel, — I feel even worse than I did when Will was taken. The little
fellow was shot in three places; but not being able to get up, James finally
shot him. He was wounded in a charge of the Second U. S. Cavalry to take some
guns from Breckenridge's Corps, — the charge failed, but not through any fault
of men or horses. Had there been any of the Second Massachusetts near, I should
have changed Billy before the charge, but I had not even an orderly near me to
dismount. The fight of Monday was a very handsome one for the cavalry. I hope
that I have heard of a horse in Washington, that will mount Will when he
returns, — but of course he can never replace Billy.
SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 348-9
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