July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by a US Sharpshooter, 12p. octavo, on stationary featuring the Capitol building and an American eagle, March 29, 1862, “Co. C 1st Regt U.S. Volunteers, Camp Farnham, it reads in part: “...the order came from the Colonel to select 50 of the best men out of each of the 10 companies they were to be men that could endure extra fatigue and long marches...we formed on the caller line in a line of battle...half past 11 oclock found us at Sandy Point ready for embarkation...we affected a landing and drew up in line of battle on the soil of Rebeldom...the Colonel walked up and down the line and gave such instructions as he deemed necessary to the success of our expedition...we continued to march...until the advance skirmishers came in sight of a rebel camp. The battalion was drawn up in a line of battle and the skirmishers deployed to advance upon the camp...there was not a living soul to welcome us...the rebels had decamped...We found a rebel suttler near by, we helped ourselves to such stuff as we could carry such as tobacco, preserved peaches, candy and rebel uniform coats...We then turned our march toward a place called Dunfield a little town on the Quantico Creek where it was reported that that there was a regiment of rebel cavalry...we found several barrels of hard bread which they had left behind...I did not relish the rebel crackers very well, so Istarted off accompanied by a young friend in search of something better...We found a house occupied by a family consisting of a man and his wife and 4 children...We politely asked the gentleman of the house if we could get some dinner, he said they did not have much to eat...we conversed with them on several subjects and among the rest the rebellion and its affects upon the people and the country in general. They seemed to view it in the same light that we do and long for its termination. They informed me that they had a son that was impressed into the rebel service which they hardly expected to see again...he was seized upon and torn from his friends and parents by the ruthless hand of the insurgents and forced to take up arms against the old flag contrary to his sense of right! They also informed us that the rebel soldiers that had been encamped near that place had been in the habit of committing all sorts of depredations upon the person and property of citizens living there abouts even the defenseless woman was not exempt from their brutality....the conversation turned upon the worthlessness of the Confederate script since the departure of the rebel soldiers... ” More. VG.
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