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, 6pp. folio, written by Sgt. John G. Abbott, Co. D, 48th New York, [MWIA Battery Wagner July 18, 1863], "Camp Cotton, Port Royal, South Carolina, January 4, 1862", reading, in very small part: "…arrived within a mile of Adams' Plantation...the 8th Michigan had just landed and began to skirmish the woods towards the Ferry. We kept on until we arrived at Adams Plantation where we found the 79th NY 50th Penna 100 Penna crossing in boats from Beaufort Island tot he Main land...we also landed, also the 47th NY. The plantations had been deserted about an hour before. Adams had locked up his negroes in one of his negro shanties, had boxed up all his crockery and buried it out in his cotton field, which of course we dug up, he had some fine furniture in the house. At 1 oclock we were all drawed up in the line of battle, all ready for a march. The 79th kept close to the river in order to get to the Ferry to cut off the Rebels retreat from the battery at the Ferry. The 8th Michigan kept up their skirmishing along the woods, the two Penna Regts in our advance the 47th in our rear, when about a mile from Adams the 8th Mn discovered a few tents which had been used as the out posts of their pickets. The skirmishers had a slight brush with their pickets but soon succeed them in driving them in...the Rebels opened fire with their artillery, which was masked behind a ditch which had been dug just in the edge of the woods so that we could not see it. They kept up their line until the had entirely cleared the field, and then Com A of the 8th Mn deployed as skirmishers right in front of the field, in the face of their artillery, Company B of the 50th Pa. deployed right behind them, then Col. Perry then acting as General, ordered Capt. Knowles to deploy as skirmishers by the right flank. Com D our com and I tell you we deployed at double quick. Com H deployed right behind us, my position in the Com is opposite the second file from the right, hence you see that I was with the first group of four...they had picked the place in order to cut us up (but we did not see the point) the Artillery kept up an incessant firing, the skirmishers marching right in the cannons face, on the left hand side of the field was a fence just in the edge of the woods, behind which was some companies of Rebels, also on the right side, the woods so thick that we could not see them, they was laying down at the time...they never fired until the 8th Michigan boys had advanced within 30 yards of the artillery when to their surprise they were almost inside of two companies of Rebels. The 50 Pa boys were about ten yards behind them which kept the Rebels from rushing out and taking them prisoners. The Rebels were ordered to fire and as quick as a flash the skirmishers fell on the ground until they had fired and then jumped up and fired one half to the right and the other to the left right into the companies...as soon as they discovered our move they directed their fire on us. Then was the time for the skirmishers to do their work, and they did it nobly, making every shot tell in the body of some Rebel. I never hear such cries and groans in all my life as I heard in the Rebel ranks. When our skirmishers fired into them, each one of our men laying down to load and fire, which was done with promptness...some of the Rebels were up in the trees to pick out our Officers...as soon as we discovered them they made a good mark for us. I heard their Col. say to them 'boys give the damned Yankees more shells' when they told him that their shells were all out then he told them to give us grape and canister. I was within 50 yards of their cavalry but could not see a single man except one in a tree, which before I could get a second glance at him, some one had put a ball in him and I saw him fall dead to the ground. It was then almost sun down and the news had just been received that the 79th with the assistance of the gun boats had driven the Rebels form their masked battery, and that we must come to their assistance, it being so late that Gen. Stevens came to see Col. Perry about withdrawing until morning...he ordered the our companies to rally on the reserve, which was done quickly, the Rebels then ceased firing...during the battle it was nothing but a continual shower of shells and balls, all around us it was a continual buzz, especially us fellows that was so near to them all the time...we had only 2 wounded in our whole Regt. Com A of the 8 Mn had 5 killed and a few wounded, the 50 Pa had a few wounded, while the Rebels lost about 150 to 200 killed, and as many wounded…". Much more interesting content. Near fine.
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