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Letter from Captain Carter M. Braxton (Leesburg) to Charles Powell (Richmond)

4 September 1862


Powell Papers – 65 P875, Box III, Folder 2


- - - - -


Near Leesburg  Sept 4th 1862


Dear Sir


                It becomes my painful duty to


inform you that on the 24th of August while


engaged with the enemy near Warrenton


Springs your son was killed by a shell while


bravely serving his gun.  He was killed instant


ly the fragment of shell striking him on the left


side & passing through the heart.  I was near


him when he fell but before I could reach him


his spirit had gone to the place prepared for it. 


Although he had been a member of my Battery


but a short time, by his uniform good conduct


& constant attention to his duties he has secured


the good opinion & esteem of his officers &


had won for himself many friends in the


Company.  I had him buried near the


spot where he fell & it may be some comfort


to you to know that all was done for him


that kind friends could do under the cir-


cumstances – not knowing wheather we


[2]


were going to hold the field – I thought


it best to bury him as soon as possi


ble – I selected a place which could


be easily identified should you or


his friends wish to remove his remains


before I could point the spot out in person


to you – Allow me to say that


in your son our bleeding country


lost a brave & noble defender.


I believe he died a true christian.


Below I send you a diagram of


the ground upon which he fell, by


which you can secure his remains


when you think proper to do so.


                Map


      Bottom of page 2


[3]


We were stationed near the Waverly house


(which is yellow) opposite the Warrrenton Spgs.


Just north of the house in a ravine north of a


brick house will be found the grave of your


son in the plot it is marked Q.


Mr Miller’s house is northwest from it –


He could direct you to the spot –


I have had to write in great hurry


as I am on the road should you


wish for more explicit information


I will endeavor give it at another


time.  With great respect I remain


Yours very truly


                Carter M Braxton


                Capt ____ Arty


 


Chas L Powell., Esq


Richmond


(note:  The map is very detailed showing the river, road, Warrenton Springs, the Miller house, Waverly house, Brick house, the ravine and two sets of hills and the position of the battery facing Warrenton Springs.  The gravesite is marked with a sign Q just north of the Brick house.)