96

Alfred Waud.

Pencil sketch of a Wisconsin colonel, with Waud's notes and his military pass.

[Virginia], circa November-December 1862
3 items, various sizes, tipped into a modern mat for display. 

Pencil sketch: Pencil on paper, 10¼ x 7½ inches, unsigned but in Waud's style; uneven edges, mat toning, tape re-enforcement on edges verso. Depicts a man fleeing a town on horseback, with civilians running in the background.

Caption slip: Manuscript in pencil, 2 pages on one leaf of lined paper, 7½ x 5 inches, unsigned but in Waud's hand; horizontal fold. The first portion of this slip appears to describe the drawing: "Lt. Col. Cutler[?] of Wisconsin at the capture of Rappahannock Falls got a scare, turned his horse, and ran away, and never came back. It was said has not turned up since. To that time had ever been brave." We cannot link this story with any actual Wisconsin officer. Colonel Lysander Cutler briefly commanded his brigade at Fredericksburg before retiring due to injuries, but served with distinction through the end of the war. A second portion appears to be a different anecdote altogether: "After first crossing Fred'ks, a battery commanding a point up Deep Run. . . . A regiment or more was observed to deploy swiftly into the ravine, and plunging out of sight advance rapidly to attack the batt'y. Commander loaded with cannister . . . but could not depress pieces to cover the ravine. In much alarm he ran with Major Keith &c to the edge of knoll. Looking over, they perceived a Vermont reg in a sort of cove formed in one side of ravine, muskets stacked, resting, cooking coffee. They had pickets out, and a shot from one of these aroused the Col. . . . Looking out, comprehending situation, gave in a high voice 'Take Arms." It was no work preparing for the enemy. His columns of companies hove into view. Fire, said the Col. It was oblique upon the column, and killed 5. . . . The whole ran back. Stack arms, said the commander as if this was a matter of daily routine, and back they returned to their cooking." This appears to describe an incident in the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg, in which the 3rd Vermont hid behind a rise near Deep Run and then drove back two North Carolina regiments with a surprise volley.

Pass: Partly-printed Document Signed by Captain Henry R. Todd as aide-de-camp for General Wadsworth. One page, 6 x 7¾ inches; folds, short tape repair on recto, minor wear, mat toning. "Pass, Mr. A. Waud within the lines of the Army to the Headquarters of Gen'l McClellan in Virginia and return." Washington, 17 November 1862.

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