July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Confederate soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Philip A. Covin, 15th South Carolina Infantry, 4pp. quarto, November 20, 1861, Camp Sumpter, and reads in part: “...we were ordered to Hilton Head Island, there we arrived on the 6th instant the next morning when we woke we were ins sight of the Yankee fleet. When we first got sight of them they were anchored out in the big waters about 8 oclock they commenced advancing. As soon as they got in range of Fort Walker they commenced firing upon them. A heavy firing continued for five long hours during this they were firing upon our regiment...I suppose we were under the heaviest cannonading that ever was done the cannon balls flew around us like rain and the bomb shells bursting in every direction. They bursted almost as fast as a bunch of firecrackers but a great deal louder. We were all this time in an open field lying flat upon the ground expecting every moment to be the last. We stood it as long as we could. We were ordered to retreat, we retreated out of reach everyone for himself. We then got the regiment together and left the island. There was only one man that was killed on the field. There was several that was severely wounded. We only had one man in our company that was seriously wounded, his name was [James] Matt Cothran. I seen several others that was severely wounded and some of them has since died. I was struck when I heard that so few was killed if it had not been for the kind hand of God we would have been all killed. There was nothing else to protect us but his protection is the only protection that we can ask for...” Fine condition.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.