Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A nice war-date Union officer's letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by 2nd Lt. John T. Andrews, Co. D, 179th New York Vols, "Camp of 179th N. Y. Vols., near Hancock Station, Va., March 8, 1865", in part: "…for thirty seven days I have been in 'close arrest.' I was charged with 'disobedience of orders' and court-martialed. It was three weeks afterI was placed in arrest before I had my trial…it was feared by many that I would be dismissed…but every officer in the regiment stood by me and 'Col. Billy'…swore that…he would send a statement of my case to the Secretary of War and have me back again…with a higher rank…after charges were preferred…he recommended me for promotion…and I received my commission…you doubtless wish to know what order or orders I disobeyed. Last June (the 9th) an order was issued at Army Headquarters forbidding all communications with the enemy. For a long time this order has been disregarded and every day the pickets were wont to exchange papers. Occasionally…our pickets received particular orders not to exchange and at other times they were instructed to get papers…to the rebels in order to give them some choice bit of news…well, Gen. Potter, who commands our Division made up his mind to put a stop to this friendly intercourse with the rebel pickets and I happened to be his victim…January 30th I was officer of the picket. I received no orders but I gave such as I thought necessary and one was that the men must not go in front of the vedette line. About one o'clock p. m. the 'brigade officer'…Major Knapp of the 17th Vt. Vols. came along inquired what orders I had received and on my telling him 'none' asked what orders I had given. I told him and he expressed his satisfaction with them. He asked if any papers had been exchanged. I knew of none…but one of the men…told him that a paper had been…the major went with me to hunt up the man who had it…he read it and said he would like to see a later one. The man who had the paper said the 'Johnny'…would come again…with this morning's paper. The major told me to get the paper…and then left…afterwards the reb made his appearance in the edge of the woods…and waved a paper. Telling the boys that that 'Johnny' must come in I took one man with me and went out to meet him. Reaching the woods I saw another reb a short distance back of the first and to entice him up I took out a 'greenback' and gave to the first for his paper. This plan succeeded-the second reb came up to where we were and I captured them both. It caused quite a little excitement. the rebus flocked out of their pits and saw the men taken in, but did not fire upon us. Well! Some miserable scamp reported at Headquarters that Lieut. Andrews had been communicating with the enemy by exchanging papers; and that evening when I came into camp I was placed in close arrest by order of Gen. Potter…at the request of Col. [William M.] Gregg…I wrote a statement…Gen. [Simon G.] Griffin stated also that my 'statement was corroborated by other evidence'. Gen. Potter there upon ordered Major Knapp to be placed in 'close arrest' and charges to be preferred against him…we have both had our trials. In his defense he made use of the following nonsense…it is very humiliating to me, an officer who has served over three years with distinction…promoted for gallantry…to be placed in such a situation by a Second Lieutenant, two months in the service, mustered from civil life, who to screen himself from punishment attempts to fasten the blame upon me.'…it did not waveform a severe reprimand…I was acquitted and restored to duty…deserters still continue to come into our lines in large numbers…Lieut. Lonnsbery is one of the finest officers in the regt. Yesterday the boys of his company presented him a sword worth eighty dollars…". Also included is the letter's original transmittal cover. Fine.
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