Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A rare war-date Union soldier's letter, 3pp. 8vo., written by 16 year-old Pvt. William Howard Eastabrook [WIA & POW Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863], Co. C, 1st Mass. Vols., "Camp Hooker, [Buds Ferry, MD], Dec. 8, 61" concerning the operations of one of Prof. Thaddeus Lowe's four Army of the Potomac balloons, Constitution, in part: "…I am writing on the side of a hill…the balloon Constitution is at the foot of the hill. It has made two ascensions today. We do not know what is seen. The balloon is now going up again opposite the rebes batteries which I expect will let them have a few shells. Last night our company was on guard. I was on picket. I went up to our batteries. They had threw two shells at it while I was on the road. When I got there I was looking for a piece of shell that had bursted while I was looking after it. A red hot shot was thrown at a house that stands close to our batteries…it struck about ten rods from where I was. I found a piece of the shell when another came. On of our boys took a shovel and dug…most of the ground and got a pot of coffee and boiled it on the ball. [The] night before last a deserter from the rebels landed on the shore…he said he was on guard. He was guarding the boat that he came over in. He made a pair of ors himself and hid them and at night he took them and started for this shore. He has been sent to Washington. A large steamboat went down the river last night. The enemy heard it was coming and when it was opposite [them] they fired at it three times but did not hit her…the balloon is up [and] they [rebels] fired a shot at it but did not hit it…I am in the same company with father [42 year-old Pvt. William W. Eastabrook]…". A great addition to any Civil War letter collection as soldier letters mentioning Professor Lowe's balloon corps are almost non-existent in the marketplace! VG
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