September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
A great war-date Union soldier's battle letter written by Pvt. Alvah Manson, Co. K, 2nd New Hampshire Vols., "Camp near James River, Va., July 5th 1862," 4pp. octavo, giving a detailed description of the 2nd New Hampshire roll in the Seven Day's Campaign, in small part: "…the 23rd of June our brigade was on picket…we were ordered to advance the picket line for purpose of ascertaining the enemies position. We advanced according to orders and had quite a skirmish…one man…was wounded in the leg…the 25th…we were called into line and advanced…we had a pretty heavy fight…there were five wounded…that day. We advanced nearly a mile and held our position until the 55th New York Regt…were put on picket there, when we were driven back to our old picket line…the 28th we were ordered to have three days rations in our haversacks…we were called out and went up to relieve the picket so that the enemy would not see any thing wrong…we fell back about a mile and formed a line of battle…Sumner's Corps, Kearney's Division and Hooker's Division were rear guard on the retreat…[July 29, the battle of Savage Station]…Sumner's Corps…directly on our right had a pretty brisk skirmish with the enemy and held them back until we were ready to fall back. That night laid on our arms ready to be called into line at any moment…about 9 o'clock the [30th]…we were ordered into line and took up our march again…we halted in the woods and formed line of battle…4 o'clock in the afternoon…the enemy began to open on us [battle of White Oak Swamp] We held our position until a little before daylight when we again took up our march. We kept on our march until 10 o'clock when we were halted …here we formed a line of battle just inside the edge of the woods [and] remained until daylight. We held an important post [during the battle of Malvern Hill]…they had some hard fighting on our left. This night our Co. and Co. A were on picket…that morning [July 2nd] we started again…this day it rained hard all day and the roads were awful, in many places the mud being up to our knees. We are within about a mile of the James River which is filled with vessels…the gunboats are stationed near here. Troops are arriving here every day…we had a hard march…a man in Co. A marched until he dropped down dead…". Also included is the original stamped transmittal cover. Near fine.
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