Van Valkenburgh, David H., ?-1862 to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00686.07 Author/Creator: Van Valkenburgh, David H., ?-1862 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: March 15, 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.5 x 12.9 cm. Order a Copy
Written by David to his mother. Says he has not written lately because he knows the letters to his wife were "Common property with you all." Adds that he has marching orders and wanted to write "for when next and in what shape I shall turn up the fates alone Can decide." Says he has been assigned to a group of four batteries under General Silas Casey's division (IV corps). Mentions that he is good health and that a few days of marching will not do him any harm. Will leave everything except essentials with his brother Robert. Makes several references to General George McClellan and events in the Peninsula Campaign. Says his unit thought they would never see a fight. Thinks he will be on General Casey's staff as Assistant Chief of Artillery. Heard she has proposed to go to Milwaukee (where his brother Frank Van Valkenburgh lives) in the spring and that he will have his wife go to Manitowoe. Hopes to come home before she leaves in order to make arrangements. Ends letter with family news. A typed note on the top of page 1 says "The writer of this letter was shot and instantly killed, while in command of his regiment, the First New York Artillery, at Fair Oaks, on the 31st day of May 1862."
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