September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Marshal P. Woods, 9th New Hampshire Infantry, 4pp. octavo, Near Fredericksburg, Maryland, November 22, 1862, with cover franked “soldier’s letter Geo. H. Chandler Adj. 9th NH” who was WIA at Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864 and promoted to lieutenant colonel in December of that year. The letter reads in part: “...We arrived at Fredericksburg last Tuesday night or near the city. The rebels have possession of the city. Gen. Burnside gave tehm so many hours to leave the city, which was until this morning at nine oclock. I guess they will leave it but do not know. We have got 50 cannon planted in front of the city, ready to blow the city to pieces...the boys went down to the road and talked with the rebel pickets on the other side of the river. It is against the law for pickets to fire at each other unless they advance on each other. ...it takes more than one company...there was 3 pickets on picket...we could see the rebels over in the city all the next day. They would come down to the river to water their hroses and mules, and we could see the cavalry passing through the streets and women and children running around. But they had no pickets on the other side...One of our Gens. went over with a flag of truce yesterday...they came over with a boat and took him in and carried him over and he was over there all of the afternoon in site of where I was in front of a house. There was a lot went to see him, there was a crowd round him all the time....I expect Burnside has got about 300,000 men, perhaps not quite as many but he has 250,000 on the advance on Richmond and Siegel has 200,000 more in the rear...I expect there will be a dreadful time...” Fine condition.
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