July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Ruel W. Waters, 6th Maine Light Artillery, 4pp. octavo, Camp 6th Maine Battery, February 3, 1865, with cover, it reads in part: “...civilians as a general thing have a poor idea of what an army is or as to how one is managed. One person Allred a veteran of this Battery. ‘How General Meade could be heard when a fight was going on, and said they though he must have a powerful voice.’ Now this Army of the Potomac and ‘Army of the James’ streches along a line thirty odd miles long. The line is a continuous breast works (made of logs and earth) a chain of Forts or enclosed works with regular garrisioins averaging 6 or 800 yds apart. On this line there are hundreds of guns or cannons. From a ten pounder to one hundred pound parrot gun, also hundreds of mortars from a small twenty four pound to a one hundred fifty pound mortar mind you I speak only of the weight of the shot or shell which these guns throw, and which give the gun its name as for instance a Light 12 pdr (guns of our battery) throws a shot weighing 12 pounds, while the gun and its carriage weigh over 3000 pounds and it requires six horses to haul one and nine men to work it. A thirty two pounder, known as the ‘Long Tom’ weights (simply the bare gun) 3500 pounds and requires ten horses to haul it. This is what is on the main line in front. The main line is constructed an abattis (long and sharpened stakes driven in the ground pointed towards the enemy) in front of this abattis (in some places 600 yards and in some only 25 yards) is another strong line of breastworks (which together with the main line has a large number of bomb proofs) this work or line is better known as picket line, and in front of the picket line is another abattis (picked sticks, brush and other rubbish which would make a man stumble some to get through) and still in front of this along a large portion of the line are the videttes, in holes, nothing more. Now in rear of the main line ther is an extra line of Forts so built that if a break should be made through the main line they would stop a further advance. In the rear of this main line a distance varying from 600 yds to 3 miles, runs the railroad which brings all supplies...there are a score of steam engines and hundreds of cars...All hands are well and gay laughing at the idea of peace and peace commissioners...” Fine condition.
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