The 9th New Hampshire Goes to Kentucky

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013

A good group of four Union soldier's letters written by Corporal Marshall P. Wood, Co. I, 9th New Hampshire Vols., totaling 21pp. 8vo., between March 18 through April 16, 1863, in part: "[Newport News, Mar. 18, 1863] … we have to drill about two hours … besides dress parade … we have to keep our guns bright and clean and that takes a good while, we had orders last night to be ready o march but it was countermanded before midnight … They are a fighting at Suffolk I expect and there was where we was going … [Mar. 22] … we are under marching orders and we are expecting to move every day … some expect to go to Tennessee … We are going to Baltimore in the first place. Oh I do hate to go way off out there for we shall see some hard fighting I think… [Camp Ella Bishop, Lexington, Ky., Apr 4] … we had a splendid time coming out here It was a long ride … we took the Steam Boat on Wednesday night and go here the next Monday night. We came up the C. Bay in the Steam Boat to Baltimore … marched through a number streets to the Depot and took the cars for Pittsburg … The City gave us a good supper … took the cars again and went over the Ohio river into Ohio … got into Columbus … Cincinnati … marched through the City … gave 3 cheers to Gen Burnside who was looking out of a window at us … [Winchester, Ky., Apr. 15] … a dreadful hard march we had. It was warm and we had not been used to marching and it took hold of us pretty tough. It was 23 miles. It was the first time I ever fell out … I was bound not to kill myself marching … you never see such a sight the road for miles … was full of troops that had fell out … I do not know what to do with my Overcoat I shall not [need it] this summer. I will give it to some negro first … There is more peddlers than you can shake a stick at. The camp is full of them …". Two of the original stamped transmittal covers are included. Usual folds, else very good.

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