September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
War-date Union soldier's Autograph Letter Signed by William T. Benjamin, 4th Delaware Infantry, January 1, 1863, 4pp. quarto, and reads in part: "...What do you think we were doing Christmas eve. Skirmishing the woods for Guerillas they were pretty thick for a while. We caught several of the ragamuffins sneaking about...The regt. was marched to the Potomac and got aboard the Steamer Columbia and started for a little further down south. It was a pleasant ride for 150 miles. The rest of the ride on the bay was pretty rough. The steamer kept close to the Virginia side and I had a good view of Mount Vernon...We are encamped in a beautiful place on York River close to a large fort that was taken from the Rebels. There is a drafted reg't in it. They are going to be sent out and I expect that will take its place for if we were to be attacked they would as soon fire on us as the Rebels. Drafted men can not be trusted...Yorktown is right in front of us, it is a hard looking place very few houses in it most of the old house are burnt down. It is strongly fortified [with small hand sketched map of the environs depicting the fort, Yorktown, troop placements and the rebel army]...These farmers in day time are very clever but when night comes they are in bands plundering..." More on the cavalry capturing prisoners. Very good condition.
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