Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Corp. Marshall P. Wood, Co. I, 9th New Hampshire Vols., "Camp near Fredericksburg, Va. Dec. 16, 1862" concerning their first two engagements, in small part: "I suppose you are…very anxious about me…I have experienced the most saddest scenes That I ever experienced…I have been in one more battle and have come out safe…it is strange that I did not get hit…we have not had very good success. The rebs had all the advantage…our loss was very great…we lost 4 or 5 to their one. Our men shelled the city…and destroyed it, burnt a lot of buildings and drove the people all out…then our troops went over the river and took position of the city. This was [on] last Thursday…our troops were called out and laid on a hill all day ready for action but did not go in…we started to go over the river that night but we come back to our camp…the next day was dreadful day to us. Many of our poor fellows was cut down. Oh the ground was covered with the killed and wounded, blankets, haversacks, knapsacks, guns, canteens and all such things. The ground was covered [with] poor wounded men…calling for help and dying…regiment after regt marched up and was mowed down by the shot and shell and bullets. Oh, it was dreadful…they was on the hills and we was at the foot…on low ground…we could not use our artillery without killing our own men…they [were]…strongly fortified…there is a long range of hills on the west of the city…they fell back on them…Oh, how they…let the shells into us. The air was full all the time. The shells would burst all round us but I was one that did not get hit…there was two in our Co. wounded. One had his fore finger shot off and the other was hit on his thigh with piece of shell. It struck his saber and broke it. If it had not been for that it would have cut his leg off. We come back into the city that night…we had orders to lie down on the…street and make ourselves as comfortable as we could…[I] was called up…to go out on picket. We…staid in an old house…every one has a right to pick up any thing on the battlefield…I got a good tin cup and a two quart measure to make coffee in…Symond's…left it in the city…Sunday we laid on the battle field all day behind a bank ready for action…there was not much firing on either side …in the evening we were relieved by the 11th N. H. Regt…I went into a house and it was occupied by the 12th N. J. Regt. officers. They said…I could not stay…they marched our whole brigade up towards the battle field…our Co. went up into a large brick building…some…went to digging rifle pits…they marched us back into the street and over…the bridge…we was sent out there to cover the retreat…in the morning the city was full of rebs…we had to take our bridges up…the city is on a hill…when our troops was in the city…our batteries would fire over us, but there was one gun that…most every shell would burst right over our heads…the pieces would fall…amongst us…when we was on the advantage those shells from our gun would burst right in amongst us. One struck about 3 feet behind our adjutant and knocked him down…I saw the ball…I was not more than a rod from him…in a few minutes there was a piece of shell struck right behind me and rolled up through our Co…afterwards we heard there was a traitor on our side…the one that put the fuse into the shell cut the fuse too short…we had lost in killed 1600 and wounded…we shall try and flank them…our lines extend a number of miles. We are in the centre…in the city…was the nicest furniture…all smashed to pieces…everything was emptied of its contents…we have a new Capt. His name is Hough…Capt. Babbit is Lieut. Col.. He has command of the Regt…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Near fine.
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