Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A nice war-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Capt. Henry A. Wiley, Co. B, 104th New York Vols., "near Sharpsburg, Sept. 28, 1862", in part: "…how long we are to stay here I am unable to say…we are within a quarter mile of a mile of the Potomac…most every day our men find some dead rebels in the woods and fields near us. We are not more than one mile from the great battle field of Antietam where we had such a terrible fight…oh, Mother such a scene…I went on the field twice, once in search of any of our regiment that had been killed. I saw poor Capt. Kelly lay[ing] there with a dozen bullet holes which had pierced him. He died…almost instantly and while some of our men were carrying him…they were wounded and had to drop him. He was burried with one man from his company on each side of him. Yesterday his wife come on to take his body home…today they are taking up the body…I saw heaps of rebels dead and dying in fact thousands of them, some of them wounded asked for water which I gave them from my own canteen. The very same men what I know that…had shot at me…my grit is good and I am not afraid to stay in the army…any one that says that they have no fear when bullets flew around them…is either a fool or else I can hardly believe him. I had some fear but…felt bilk walking rite through the rebel rank. I had to dodge lots of times or else I might have been hit by shells or solid shot. You cannot hear a bullet in time to dodge…the first you know it hits you. Shells burst within 10 feet of me and killed men also others were shot down within a few feet of me. Bullets flew like hailstones and I can hardly see how any of us ever escaped death…I cant say that I feared death for I did not. I felt as though if it was Gods will that I should fall I was content. The major has just called and told me that I must take charge of dress parade…I am second in command…I…have written three times since the first one I wrote while the battle was progressing [see the lot above]…". VG
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.