Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A nice war-date Union soldier's letter, 8pp. 8vo., written on "The War for the Union" patriotic stationery, by Pvt. Everett W. Miner, Co. C, 7th New Hampshire Vols., St. Augustine, Florida, Sept. 6, 1862, in part: "…we have got to St. Augustine at last. We started from Beaufort last Sunday [on] the steamer 'Burnside'…the sutler's stuff came on the Beaufort [also] one of the sutlers Sam Riddell and his wife…Col. [Louis] Bell [WIA Pocotaligo, S. C. & Fort Fisher, N. C.] of the fourth [New Hampshire] has been under arrest…the cause of his arrest was a mulatto woman ran away from her master and got into this town & Col. Bell sent her back across the line of the pickets…her master got her back…the [court martial] order read…Col. Bell a man now in the second year of the rebellion did when a slave woman fled to him for protection with a skin…as white as his own return[ed] her to the cruel lashes of a rebel master…also that petty thefts had been committed on the negroes at Beaufort by men wearing the uniform of the U. S. [by] disgracing the name of soldiers…it became pretty tough on the fourth [when] they hollered and cheered for Col. Bell and sore they would kill every nigger in Beaufort when hey go there…they do just as they are a mind to…a schooner was in…loaded with liquor…they would go a board…in the day and take stuff off right before the captain and crew's eyes…if the sentinel had been one of the 7th Col. Putnam [KIA Fort Wagner] would have had him court martialed and shot…Lt. Col. Abbott of the 7th is in command here now…he has given orders to pick up every man that is out after retreat…this is a nice old place…any qualities of inhabitants…niggers & soldiers…is all we have seen since we left New York…the houses look older than the hills. The streets are as narrow as hog alleys. In fact it is a spanish town…the old fort [is] called Fort Marion. It is a curiosity. It is 150 years old, It is built mostly of oyster shells and it makes quite a show for a fort…two Cos of the 4th are in it now…Capt. J. S. Durgin of Co. E, Seventh has been appointed Provost Marshall…the pickets are stationed about a mile from the town on the edge of a small creek…they frequently see partys of guerrillas. They shot one man a day or two ago. He was a citizen and was out a milking when they shot him…". VG.
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