The Discovery of Babcock Rock

Abstract

Only two months before the events of this letter, aft er the battle of Chancellorsville, Willis wrote to his father about “leaving the army if he could do so with honor to himself.”2 Samuel thought it best that Willis remain in the ranks, and so Willis stayed. Th e sad tidings received in Major Bradley’s letter refreshed Samuel’s apprehension about the advice he had so recently off ered to his son. He later recalled, “I felt some misgivings over it and wished I had told him to do what he thought best under the circumstances. But that like many other things has passed and cannot be recalled. I thought at the time I did right, but my heart aches now while I think of it.”3 As was the case for thousands of people across the North and South aft er every great battle of the war, the words written by Major Bradley on July 5 set in motion a macabre journey for Mr. Babcock. Th e fi -