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Content Description

Four page letter from Union Officer 2nd Lieutenant Ira Fox Gensel of the 4th United States Regular Infantry from a camp near Roper's meeting House in James City County, Virginia dated May 11, 1862. He describes his march into Williamsburg after the battle that took place in that city and the high casualties as a result of that battle. He calls Williamsburg a beautiful city but the court houses, William and Mary College, and all of the churches are used as hospitals and are filled. Gensel also describes the road out of Williamsburg by which the Rebel Army retreated, filled with horse and cattle corpses, broken down wagons and pieces of cannon. "The retreating Army carries desolation before it."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
• Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Williamsburg (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
• Wren Building (Williamsburg, Va.)