This letter was written by Manning Austin (1843-1921) who enlisted at North Landing, Tompkins county, New York, as a private in Co. G, 10th New York Cavalry on 6 October 1861. He reenlisted as a veteran corporal in December 1863 and was later transfered to Co. I, 2nd Regiment, V. R. C. Interesting quotations from several of Manning Austin’s letters appear on a webpage of the 10th New York Cavalry published by Ken Morris. He cites the source of these letters as having been posted on-line on January 2001 by David G. Phillips Co., Inc. Sale #106 but that link is no longer active.

Manning was the son of Wisner D. Austin (1811-1879) and Eliza Giltner (1806-1894) of Lansing, Tompkins county, New York.

Manning Austin’s letter gives us a riveting account of the Battle of Middleburg, Virginia, on 19 June 1863, in which three squadrons (including his own) spearheaded a daring mounted charge that broke Confederate lines, successfully pushing JEB Stuart’s dismounted cavalry out of the woods and taking the town. The cavalry engagements in Loudon county successfully delayed Stuart’s cavalry from being of greater assistance to Lee in his invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Headquarters 10th N. Y. Vol. Cavalry
Camp at Leesburg, Virginia
June 25, 1863

Dear Sister,

As I have not written home in quite a longtime, I thought I would try and write a little this morning. I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. You may be surprised when you get htis to find that I am now at Leesburg, Va. When we left Warrenton Junction, we moved back to Manassas Junction, stayed there over night, then went to Aldie, Va. where we met Old Stewart [J. E. B. Stuart], (the Rebel Cavalry Chief) & drove him back through Ashby Gap—a place in the Blue Ridge. We reached Aldie on the 17th last and commenced fighting the next morning. Our regiment was in front, drove the enemy as far as Middleburg, a distance of three miles. We slept upon the battlefield that night & early the next morning the fight commencedby skirmishers. Companies A and M dismounted as Carbineers and went to the front as skirmishers where they remained until about 9 a.m. they had drove the enemy about a mile west of Middleburg into a piece of wood where they made a desperate stand.

Our cannon opened upon them but could not dislodge them. Gen. Gregg then sent one squadron of the 1st Maine & three out of our regiment, 2st, 2nd, and 3rd, to charge the woods which we did to good effect. The Maine boys charged first and was repulsed with some loss. Then our 3rd and 2nd squadron charged & was driven back but they soon rallied and with the 1st [squadron] charged to woods again in the face of a galling fire from the enemy sharpshooters but we fought desperately, charging & rallying until we drove them beyond the woods. It tell you, it was a hard fight.

Mr. Maine had his horse shot from under him but he paid that [back] in their own coin. He shot a reb dead. In the last charge, I got separated from the rest of the boys. I saw some of the Rebels coming down through the woods to the right. I stopped my horse and took deliberate aim with my carbine at a rebel & fired. He fell from his horse. I marked the spot where he fell & after the battle was over I went to the spot and found him where he fell. He was shot through the heart.

I have no more time so I will bid you goodbye for this time. — M Austin