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. 4to., written by Sgt. John G. Abbott, Co. D, 48th New York, [MWIA Battery Wagner July 18, 1863], "Port Royal, Mouth of the Broad River, South Carolina, Nov. 5, [1861]", reading, in very small part: "…the men were nearly frightened to death…I did not expect to live to see Dixie…she had one of her boats stove and washed off…the Winfield Scott hoisted a signal of distress…she cut away her masts. The Desota 5took a tow line…the Scott had here bow stove in…besides about 100 men of he 4th Regt…the Governor was lost…the Belvedere also lost…we arrived off the mouth of the Broad River...no sooner did we arrive…than five rebel steamers came out and fired upon our boats, after they had fired five guns our boys began to return the fire, after half an hour, the sun being nearly down a shell from one of our boats, burst over one of the rebel boats, when as fast as fire wood for coal could carry them they went up the river again. Our boats blockaded the river for the night, not being quite within range of their fortifications in the morning at day light the little wiffits (for they are nothing else when compared with our boats) came out again for fight, and began to bark, before they got anywhere near our boats. To draw them in range of their forts, which is situated on both sides of the river, one below...our boys did not care about the boats but forts and when they got the cannel marked out, 4 of our small boats and the Pawnee went up, at the signal of the head boat. When the Rebel boats backed out and the Fort opened fire on our small boats, and after they had exchanged about 30 shots the Pawnee opened fire upon them, her second bomb bursting over the Fort, on the eastern side of the river, the marine's landing in the small boats and taking their cannons the men left. The boats then shelled the woods on the eastern side but could see nothing of the rebels. The boats then began to find the channel up to the next fort. At 10 am the Frigates Wabash, Roanoke, and three others came in to the place where they had just took the other fort, and is now waiting to get a broadside at the other Fort. The fort has already opened fire upon our boats but they are too far off...it is a pretty sight to see a naval engagement…we land last…when our boat was close to shore a counterband came out on a plank…he tells ye all he knows about dem dar rascals on de shore for he nows dat dey be bad people, dem dar Rebels…yesterday morning… the Rebel gun boats came down the river…the Wabash with nine others moved up…of the fort…the fort opened fire…then the shells began to fly from the boats, a brisk cannonading had commenced…at 2 p. m. the rebels ceased firing…the Marines…landed and upon the same pole that the secession flag had been waving…hoisted the flag…which had been so often fired upon during the past few hours…their was 28 guns in the fort…as the sun was rising they hoisted the Star Spangle Banner…". The original regimental patriotic cover is also included. Much more interesting content. Near fine.
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