Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A good letter archive from the personal archives of Pvt. Isaiah Grandison Baker 6th Virginia Infantry whose letters appear elsewhere in this catalog being a mix of both complete and partial letters. FIRST, in this lot is a multipage letter detailing the opening of the Gettysburg campaign, on June 9, 1863, while part of A. P. Hill's Corps in front of Fredericksburg. Grandison's regiment was one of the last regiments to leave their entrenchments and head north and subsequently into history. The letter, reads, in part: "…[n. d., but Tuesday, June 9, 1863] 6 1/4 p. m… we have now 109 guns in position on Maryes Heights. Genl. M.[ahone] has just sent us word that he was going to open on the enemy …and that we must notice the effect and give him the particulars of the different shots that take effect. 6 1/2 p. m. the first shot cause every Yankee to disappear behind their breastworks…we had perfect command of every battery that the Yanks have erected…[Wednesday 10th]…1 p. m. I have just had a conversation with Capt. Hill (on Genl. A. P. Hill's staff) who tells me that the Genl. feels confident that he can whip all the Yanks, who are this side of the river, with Anderson's division, but that he is not to make an attack this accounts for our not fighting……we have perfect, nay, blind confidence in Genl. Lee…[Thursday 11th]…we have just heard the particulars of a very sever fight which Genl. Stuart has had with the Yankee cavalry [at Brandy Station]…we whipped the enemy yet our loss is nearly equal…the day was only won by the sacrificing bravery of our men …Genl. Stuart was surprised…repeated successes have made him careless…[Saturday 13th]…I am on the eve of a battle…from the moves of the enemy…a retrograde movement will soon be made by the Yanks from this position of country…the Yanks sent up a ballon opposite 'Banks Ford' after it had reached its a altitude…7 of our 3 in 'Parrot Guns' opened on it and it came down very rapidly…". Second, is a partial 4pp 4to., "Head Qrs. 6th Regt., August 10, 1862" letter, reading, in part: "…shortly after the evacuation of Norfolk it was reported that he was wounded at the battle of Seven Pines…I do not think his name was in the list of casualties of the 3rd Ala….plus more on deserters. Third, 4pp. 8vo., [n. d., n. p.] partial letter, reading, in small part: "…I know that many a Yankee…have the mark of I. Grandison Baker on them and I hope to be spared to make many more of them bite the soil which they have polluted with their filthy carcasses and which we have enriched with their dead with an eye to Horticulture…". Forth, a good postwar letter, 3pp. 4to., [n. p.], Aug. 18, 1872, in part: "…one of the most beautiful phenomena of nature I ever witnessed was in…Charlottesville during the winter of '64. I arrived one night with my command at the foot of the Monticello Heights. It was a…cold and rainy night. The next morning the sun came out clear and bright reflecting directly upon the rainy ground…seemed to be a mass of pendant diamonds…shortly afterwards having to assend that hill side we found it any thing but grand or sublime. Aside from its natural endowments which made a visit to C'ville pleasant…it has the reputation of being the seat of high social culture and where the old laws of Virginia hospitality are still maintained without either the XIII, XIV, or XVth amendments …". Fifth, a family letter from Richmond, Va., Dec. 13, 1861and two postwar 1867 letters all with family news. Sixth, a good postwar, 1p. 4to., on Richmond Bag Company stationery, Richmond, Va., Nov. 10, 1914, in part: "This is to certify that the records in this office show that Isaiah G. Baker enlisted at Tanners Creek, Norfolk County, April 1861, as a private in Com[pnay A, 6th Regiment Virginia Infantry, captured May 22nd 1864…". All very good with expected wear and separations. (8 letters, one stamped cover.)
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