Four Years in the First New York Light Artillery: The Papers of David F. Ritchie

The book is based on David Ritchie's Civil War letters, journals, and newspaper articles. As both a combatant and war correspondent, he wrote descriptions and analyses of the war for the Utica, NY Morning Herald. He served first with the 14th NYV Regt., then with Batteries A (the Empire Battery), C, and H of the 1st NY light Artillery, which included men from Utica, and Oneida, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Oswego Counties, NY. His accounts include the Peninsular Campaign, the battles of Seven Pines, Spotsylvania, the North Anna, Cold Harbor, Peeble's Farm, and Petersburg. He also gives insight into the social and cultural life of wartime Washington, DC. Fully annotated and indexed.