Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. John Wesley Given (1816-1870) of Sharpsburg, PA who served as a private and wagoner in the 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Fortress Monroe, Va., March 23, 1862, in part: "…we are between the fort & the remaining ruins of the town of Hampton…quite a place…but mostly burnt by the rebels & was within 3 miles of the fort. Our Head Quarters is now on the bank of the Bay known as Hampton Roads, Sewell's Point is right opposite us…[and is] held by the rebels. Newport News is some 12 miles south of us in possession of our troops & Great Bethel is some 12 miles west of us held by the rebels. This has been a beautiful country but the traces of Rebellion & War will long be visible. Many of the building vacated by fleeing Rebels are now occupied by Contraband Negroes of all descriptions. There is a fine large Female College within 200 yards of my quarters owned by the State of Va. now occupied as a hospital. Several buildings surrounding it are…filled with negroes & some of the Yankee soldiers have established a Talbot school among them…some have learned to read already. They also have preaching…we have no preaching among us…troops have been coming in all day. The fleet…that brought us…returned to Alex[andria] &…[returned] with some 20,000 more…there must be 50 to 60 thousand here now…we don't expect to remain here long…we can see the Rebel camps across Hampton Roads. The country here is somewhat swampy…we have just recd. orders to move…some 2 or 3 miles towards Great Bethel…I miss my comfortable quarters but still have the wagon to sleep in…". VG
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