Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A good war-date Union soldier's Gettysburg campaign letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. J. Henry Blakeman [wounded in the chest at Gettysburg July 1, 1863], Co. D, 17th Conn. Vols., "Camp Distribution near Alexandria, Va., June 17 & 23, 63", in part: "…the 11th Corps marched last friday and I was left behind. Finding…that the division hospital…was about to move I went…to Dr Wilson…I went and got my baggage and took leave of the folks who tried…to have me stay…I helped take down the hospital tents and take them to Brooks' Station…we lay around Aquia doing very little…arrived at Alexandria at one [am] staid on the boat ill morning…started to go to the Regt without any pass or knowing where it was…we were stopped and sent back under a guard and kept so till towards night…orders came not ot send us for the troops were moving and we would be [too] troubled to find them…the doctor who started us off in the way he did yesterday has been put under arrest for it…the Rebs seem to be making some heading into Pennsylvania…I hope Hooker will manage to trap them in some way before they get back. All the country near the Rappahannock has been abandoned, but all the property was saved even the cars and engines were run onto the boats and brought away…the Rebs were within seven or eight miles of us when we left …June 23, 63…after leaving the camp of distribution we marched to Alexandria…we marched to Georgetown and took the canal…we went as far as Monocacy River and hearing that the Rebs were ahead stopped for the night…yesterday morning…we started for the Corps under command of a Lieut. who…took the wrong road and went to Leesburg and back not reaching the Corps till dark…marching about fifteen miles…I am pretty stiff and…sick bumming around…the boys that is Selah and Stephen are on picket…I cant tell what the Rebs intend to do everything seems quiet…Sunday there was quite a cavalry fight at Snicker's Gap resulting in the Rebs getting badly whipped…". VG
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