Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A great Vermont soldier's Civil War archive of war-date letters, photographs and insignia belonging to Private George Herbert Bond (1846-1928) who served for nine months in the 16th Vermont Vols. During his time in service his regiment patrolled the country side in northern Virginia near Bull Run, Kettle Run and Union Mills helping guard the Union supply line from raids by Confederate partizans, such as, John S. Mosby and suspicious local citizens. Included in the archive are twenty-one (21) war-date letters written between December 1862 and July 6, 1863; eight (8) post-war military related photographs, all of him as a member in the Vermont Militia including one of him as a young private in the 16th Vermont, it is inscribed on the verso: "Private Geo. H. Bond, Co. I, 16th Regmt. Vt. Vol. Copied from one taken at Camp Fairfax Station, Virginia A. D. 1863. Born in 1846."; two (2) pair of shoulder straps (lieutenant colonel and colonel); a mismatched pair of shoulder knots (all from his Vermont militia days); one pair major's rank insignia for shoulder knots: one (1) rare book on the battle of Gettysburg authored by brevet Major General Abner Doubleday, entitled: "Gettysburg Made Plain", 59pp. 8vo., published by Century Co., New York, 1888 which is illustrated throughout with many maps, including one on page 55 which shows the positions of Bond's brigade during the campaign and where they started for home from. Bond's war-date letters (some on patriotic stationery and some with their original patriotic covers) begin with their arrival at the front in Washington and continue through their service until just after the battle of Gettysburg, they read, in small part: "…[Washington, n. d.]…we…are in Washington…went on the steamer…at 8 o'clock reached New York. We had some breakfast…the rest of the regiment got wet as they were in freight cars. We are now camped on Capital Hill. There are a number of regiments here…they are practicing with their cannons of the hills…[on the picket line near Camp Vermont, Dec. 1, 1862]…we are all well…and have to go on picket most all of the time…I should think Ellis showed himself pretty smart. I would give him a smack in the jaw…he writes dreadful pious letters to the boys telling them to pray for themselves. I should think he had better try it himself…I stood on picket last night on a plantation…it is so large that the folks are most neighbors with them…he keeps 13 horses, 6 cows [and] he has a lot of negroes to work for him. This morning they took a wagon and 6 horses and went out and got a load of corn…they [they officers] wont let us have a [?] of fire night or day [while we are] on picket. They are afraid the light might…show were the line is…[Bull Run, Dec. 16]…I am now in rebeldom…we crossed a battle field and see…a number of poor fellows [?] covered up. One of their heads stuck out. One of the men pulled out a tooth. Old guns, shells [and] bullets lay all scattered around. We see more than 50 dead horses coming from Alexandria…the boys scared up a rabbit and he run through…all of the men…they did not catch him…Lieutenant Thomas…took his sword and struck him across his neck and killed him…Thursday the 18th…we are now encamped in the woods about a mile from Fairfax Station. We are in nothing but shelter tents…[Camp near Fairfax Station, Jan. 25, 63]…the quartermaster business is pretty stirring here…we are right in sight of the railroad. The cars run from here to Union Mills and back [in] 1 day…[n. p., but Fairfax Station, n. d.]…we have been out…to shoot. I have shot away 28 rounds of cartridges…the rest of the regiment the same…that is the way Uncle Sam's profitability goes little by little.…Fairfax Station, Va., March 17, 63]…our general done well to go to the front and leave the boys behind. We expect to be attacked……they have been throwing up breastworks…they have dug trenches as much as 2 miles long…to Bull Run. There has been signal lights thrown up for a number of nights…Co. B went out on a scout…and caught 4 rebus citizens and they do the most damage…after taps if they catch any man out…they will put them in the guard house…Dr. P. S. Loughton has been promoted to 2 lieutenant…Co. A. & B. have the Springfield rifle as they will have to do the scouting…these citizens around here want cleaning out…[Union Mills, Va., May 7, 1863]…I have been on picket…we have not got but one month more to double duty…we have to go on picket every other day…and guard the trains that go to the Rappahannock…some contrabands come into our line from Warrenton 3 men, 4 women, 7 children. A hard looking set. They have sent them to Washington…they have taken 7 rebels. They shot at our cavalry and killed one horse today. They have got 8 New York fire zouaves. They are gang [?]…they tried to make them cross the Rappahannock and they would not…our new general is here at the mills [he is] Gen. Stannard. We are in Abercombie's division now he has taken Casey's place…[Camp at the same old place, May 7, to his brother]…the 15th have gone down where the 12 are at Warrenton. They took men out of the 16 to relieve us…Hooker has had another battle…one section of the Rhode Island battery went with the 15th…[we] have got Springfield guns now…we shot at [the] target Saturday…I come off 2nd best. Hit the target 3 times. Old Mosby and his crew attacked some of the 1st Vt. Cavalry…our men want [weren't] ready. All out of their saddles. They took our men. Some of them prisoners but soon some of our scouting parties come in. They charged on them and took back our men and took 30 of them prisoners. The major of our cavalry was mortally wounded. The wounded come by here on the cars. The major was gasping when he was carried by here. They took one of Mosby's lieutenants prisoner…[Union Mills, Va., May 20, 1863]…Co. B have moved from the station…the regiment have set out trees all through the streets. The 15th have got back from Bealton. The 12 have got back from the rappahannock…Barney Pratt & Baker have got back [they] have been exchanged. The[y were the ] ones that was taken with Stoughton. Old Stoughton has got commission of major general. He is going up. Old Hooker has got whipt and probably they will put in an other leader…Va. is a hard place to clean out. Too many of Mosby's bushwhackers around. They took 2 of Co. C boys of the 16th and when he let them go. He said that he would have Old Veasey before long. He said he was in our camp a few days ago. He is [a] tough cuss…I notice 2 horsemen crossed the picket line the nite I was on but they did not cross my bet…we could hear their sabers jingle…they came to the bet above mine but dare not try to cross…if they had they would have taken some pills…he have got some Springfield guns…[Union Mills, May 22,1863]…the house we live in, boarded up at one end. The rest is covered with cloth…[here draws a picture of his tent]…[Union Mills, May 25]…we went round once and did not suit the old colonel and he made us march around 5 or 6 times. They are drilling us…at creeping slow time. The colonel drilled our Co. this morning and he gives us the praise of being the best drilled Co. in the regiment…[Catlett's Station, Va., May 28]…we moved yesterday. Come on the cars. We left Cos A. and G. at Manassas & come up to Bristoe…we have block houses…built up for to get into out of the way of cavalry. It is built of hewn timber with little holes about 4 inches square to shoot out of. They station pickets…about…1/2 to three quarters of a mile out around us…there is our cavalry pickets beyond them…there is some 15 men have to lay in the block house with their equipment on, guns beside them…we had a review by Gen. Ambercombie. He said he never saw a regiment in the regular army that could go through the manual of arms so well…the 16th is the best regiment in the brigade. That is what Stoughton said before he left…there is from 1 to 3 trains run up by here every day. The forage for Stoneman's cavalry's to come this rout…the first Vt. is at Kettle Run…[Catlett's Station, May 30]…the first train was coming up. They got within about 2 1/2 mile of here and they were halted by a man with a red flag. The rebus opened on them with artillery…putting 2 balls through the boiler and through the smoke stack. They come on with turpentine and set the train on fire, burning it up. There was about three hundred of them comprising Capt. Mosby's cavalry. They did not have but one piece of artillery. The 1st Vermont Cavalry and 5th New York took after them. They come up with them about 5 miles northwest of here…commenced shelling our men…a man came in here with a horse and saber…the children picked up the saber…he [the horse] was wounded in the fore leg and in the hip…our boys taken the piece of artillery & taken some of them prisoner…some of our boys gone down to help clear the track…they said that Mosby did not have a horse that could…keep up with them…the boys that went on the scout…no one was hurt but the news boy. He had his leg broke by a shell…the shell burst…wood flew and broke his leg…they had 2 pieces of artillery…Stoneman started out 700 Cavalry from Warrenton Junction. They have followed them clear to the mountains…4 o'clock 2 trains have come up…the engine looked rather hard, great holes in it…[Catlett's Station, May 31]…I stood guard in front of a Reb's house that leads to Fredericksburg…we heard a gun fired at No. 3 beat and then another…we…fell in…the men at the post fired at 3 rebel cavalry men and they did not hit them…we are right here with the rebels now…the women followed after them cursing and swearing at the men that stole the horses…Stoneman is trying to breakup Mosby's bushwhackers by taking their citizens horses…there has 2 parties gone out this morning…[Catlett's Station, June 6]…there is a brigade of cavalry close by. They are regulars…Lieutenant Stoughton is post adjutant…[Union Mills, June 19]…I have seen some of the nicest horses that I ever saw…in the cavalry…I am writing this with a pencil that a cavalry officer gave me. It was taken on Stoneman's raid into Richmond…[Union Mills, June 25]…we have got to move. We are going to join the 1st Army Corps…we shall have a chance to the Johnnys yet…we expect to go up into Maryland…we are throwing everything away that aint really necessary nothing but 2 blankets and a fly…the 11, 13 & 14 have got to come up from Wolf Run Shoals before we have to start so we…have to march for the [whole] first day…[Camp in the woods near Hagerstown, Maryland, July 6]…it has been a long time since I wrote but we have been marching. I have been guarding the baggage train. The boys have been in a fight at Gettysburg and came out all right…have crossed South Mountain and are near Hagerstown…we are in line of battle. We expect to advance today…the boys done bully [at Gettysburg]. The 13, 14 & 16 were in the fight. We had two killed out of our company. Pierce from Putney & Frank Cook from Williamsville…the boys are feeling well. George Rose is all right and all of the Dummerston boys also. We have seen considerable hard marching…we will be home to help finish haying if the Johnnys don't get us…L. done bully in the fight…". Many of the letter's original transmittal cover are present. Bond was discharged on August 10, 1863. He returned home and joined the Vermont Militia, serving with them during the St. Albans Raid. He remained in the militia until he was discharged during the Spanish American War, but not after having attained the rank of brevet brigadier general. He is credited with leading the Vermont troops during President McKinley's inauguration and at the Grant Memorial parade in New York City a month later. In 1900 he was appointed messenger of the U. S. Senate and served in the Senate Chamber for 17 years until he retired and was placed on the Senate Honor Roll for life. Also, included is a printed pamphlet for the parade itinerary for the Grant Monument Inaugural Parade, New York, April 27, 1897 showing that his troops served as an escort to Vermont Governor Josiah Grout and two (2) partly-printed United State Senate Chamber passes dated April 6, 1917. Expected soiling and wear with condition varying from very good to near fine
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.