Letter, and battlefield Last Will and Testament and envelope/cover, of William J. Blauvelt of the 3rd New York Light Artillery.

Camp Griffin, Lewinsville, Va, Jan 10 1862.  Two enclosures.  A letter to his brother, and his battlefield Last Will & Testament from a soldier in Capt Mott's 3rd New York Light Artillery Battery.    Embossed eagle on the envelope flap.

He writes:

"...there are a great many of the Vermont regiments that are dying like sheep two or three a day on a average in our division but none in our Battery."  Mentions enclosing his will along with the letter leaving all his possessions to his brother.

Blauvelt is mentioned in a letter from his cousin, who details Blauvelt's wounding at the Battle of White Oak Swamp, excerpted below:

James A. Hudson of the 1st New York Cavalry, in a letter from 21 July, 1862, writes to his cousin, John Blauvelt, of their mutual cousin being severely wounded at the Battle of White Oak Swamp, where Hudson fought as well, "....a shell struck and exploded in the battery wagon shattering it with kindling wood and killing several horses.   Bill [William J. Blauvelt of the 3rd New York Light Artillery] was at the time in charge of the swing team of this ill fated wagon...   Bill was apparently struck by a piece of that shell as he fell to the ground and tossed about in agony a few sefcond then arose on his feet, walked a few paces, staggering and fell.    Just thenthe battery was hard pressed an an order to limber up was given and change position.   From that time nothing more was seen of him and all think he is dead, until in the 'herald of july 18th' his name appears amongthe wounded taken to Fortress Monroe.   What the extent or nature of his wound is not stated, simply the name and address 'Blauvelt, W. J. 3rd New York Artillery, Mott's Battery.'   He was highly respected and supposed death cat a gloom over many and this paragraph in the Herald caused great rejoicing in the battery.   Their total loss was 10 killed, more than half the remainder wounded and several missing.   They also lost between 30 and 40 horses, 5 caissons which were blown up by the rebels shells .... 1 gun, a 10lb Parrott rifle ... had to be left on the field for want of horses...   it was of no use to the enemy...   they have already recd 50 new horses..."

Blauvelt died July 22, 1862, less than a month later, of typhoid fever in Brooklyn, most likely at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital, which handled a quarter of all Union casualties.




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