15 3/4 x 10 1/2, two sided imprinted document, filled out in ink.
Headquarters Camps Distribution and Recruits, Alexandria, Va., September 1863. Captain: Enclosed you will find account of Clothing issued to men of your Company at this Camp during the month of September, the receipt of which you will please acknowledge to, Yours Respectfully, C.W. Freeman, 1st Lieut. and A.A.Q.M.
The opposite side of the document has the account for items issued to M. Garrett, Co. F, 1st Penna. Arty., on Sept. 9, 1863, which includes 1 pair of trowsers, 1 blanket and 1 haversack. Signed by Matthew Garrett, and witnessed by J.M. Johnson, Q.M. Sergt.
Light wear and age toning.
Charles M. Freeman, was commissioned 2nd lieutenant, in the 2nd U.S. Infantry, on August 5, 1861; was promoted to 1st lieutenant, on November 1, 1861; brevet major on October 13, 1865; and retired on April 18, 1866.
Matthew Garrett served with the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, 1863-65.
The 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery saw action at 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg, to name but a few places.
Gettysburg: Batteries F & G, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, were commanded by Captain R. Bruce Ricketts during the battle of Gettysburg. They were very heavily engaged on July 2, 1863, being posted on Cemetery Hill. After fighting in the afternoon on the 2nd, a heavy column of Confederates charged their batteries at about 8 p.m. and succeeded in capturing and spiking their left piece. In his Gettysburg report in the Official Records, Rickett's writes, "the cannoneers fought them hand to hand with handspikes, rammers, and pistols, and succeeded in checking them for a moment, when a part of the 2nd Corps charged in and drove them back. During the charge I expended every round of canister in the battery, and then fired case shot without the fuses. The enemy suffered severely." His report goes on to state that he lost 6 killed, 14 wounded, 3 missing, 20 horses killed and 1,200 rounds of ammunition spent. |