War-dated handwritten endorsement, signed “R. E. Lee, Gen’l,” on the reverse of a one page lightly-lined letter written to Lee, as General of the Army in Richmond, 8.75 x 10.5, by Captains R. K. Hudgins, William E. Hudgins and J. DeSagnel, dated May 5, 1862. Letter reads, in full, “We have to State that we were in command of the batteries of heavy artillery at Yorktown and on Saturday night were ordered by Gen’l Hill to remain at our posts until 12 o’clock midnight, then spike the guns and leave not having command of companies, we did not deem it necessary to follow the army. Consequently left in an open boat for West Point, and took the cars from that place and arrived here last night and reported to the Secretary of War who directed us to report to you for duty.” On the reverse, Lee writes, Hdqrs: Richmond 5 May ‘62. It appears from the statement of Capts Hudgins, DeSagnel & Wm. E. Hudgins that they have left the Army of Genl Johnston without orders. I do not know what duty he may have intended for them. I think they ought to report to him. R. E. Lee, Gen’l.” The Battle of Yorktown (1862) was a battle of the American Civil War that was part of the Union offensive called the Peninsular Campaign. It happened when several regiments under Union Maj. Gen. George McClellan troops met a regiment of the Confederate troops near Yorktown, Virginia along the York River. Considered a skirmish because of the limited number of troops involved, the battle resulted in an estimated 482 casualties. The resulting Union victory allowed the Union forces to continue their advance up the Virginia Peninsula towards Richmond. General Daniel Hill took part in the Yorktown and Williamsburg operations that started the Peninsula Campaign in the spring of 1862, and as a major general, led a division with great distinction in the Battle of Seven Pines and the Seven Days Battles. He took part in the Second Bull Run campaign in August-September 1862, and in the Maryland Campaign. Hill’s division saw fierce action in the infamous sunken road (“Bloody Lane”) at Antietam, and he rallied a few detached men from different brigades to hold the line at the critical moment. In very good condition, with several partial separations along horizontal folds, light foxing to top edge of reverse, affecting a couple of lines of endorsement, scattered toning and soiling, several other notations and endorsements and a small strip of heavier stock affixed to the left vertical edge. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
