July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Edward H. Smith, 5th Vermont Infantry, who was WIA and taken prisoner at Savage Station and died of his wounds while a captive of the Confederate forces one week later. This letter is 8pp. octavo, written from “Camp in the Field” June 15, 1862, with cover, it reads in part: “...We are encamped within rifle shot of the rebel pickets on one point. They shot a man of our Sutlers cart day before yesterday. Think he will die. They fired five shots at the crowd one bullet went through the pants of a corporal in Co. E. The sutler had to move his car back. The bullets whistled over our tents very often. We are not allowed to fire back on the Sharp Shooters. They are on post with the pickets. It is strange our artillery don’t answer theirs. We have a fort built and masked batteries and rifle pits and plenty of guns but I think we are kept still on purpose in hopes that we can draw them out of the woods and get them to attack us, in fact I know it is...Friday night we expected certain we would be attacked...Some of the prisoners that our men took told Gen. Brooks that we would be attacked that night but we was not. There is not hardly a day but some few rebels are brought in. They shelled the woods on our left the other day. Threw about two hundred shells over but only killed twenty seven men. Our artillery never fired a shot but if they ever pitch into us for a regular battle they will find our Artillery is all right. One of the mounted orderlys was shot the other day when our Regiment was on picket. He came out with the orders and somehow got over the line and rode up within three rods of the rebel pickets before he see his mistake. He wheeled his horse as soon as he could but had eight balls through him in a moment but did not drop from his horse till he was four rods further. It happened on the line where pickets join the NY pickets and the Colonel was afraid the rebels would get the baggage and get hold of the papers for his New York boys did not want to go after the body but a lot of our boys went with him and got the body. It was strange the rebels did not try to get hold of the body for they might have known that he had papers of importance...If folks would let Gen. McClellan alone it would be better. His soldiers have confidence in him and would fight anybody that said a word against him but the Abolitionists never was satisified and never will be...” More. Fine condition.
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