Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Everett W. Miner, Co. C, 7th New Hampshire Vols., Folly Island, S. C., Aug. 17, 1863, in part: "The 'Grand Bombard' opened this morning…some say Genl. Gilmore was not ready…a large force of the Rebs were seen near Fort Wagner…in line of battle so they opened…a lot of the troops passed by here on their way up to Morris Island. we have any quality of troops on this island…they have been coming…from Va. and are still coming some right from the Gettysburg fight…some of them 52nd, 104th, 74th P. Vols…25th & 75th Ohio, 17th Conn. & 40th Mass…I was down to Pawnee Landing when we 40th came…as soon as I found out it was the 40th Mass. I asked…if there was a drummer…by the name of Miner…he showed him [Pvt. John D. Miner a weaver from Salem, Mass. enlisted at age 44] to me. He is the image of Father. I went up to him & says Uncle John how do you like S. C. Pretty well says he & never looks up…he did not know who I was. How would you like to see Leonard says I. He looked up in bewilderment looked at me…and grasped me hand…he wanted to see Father…just before dinner was ready their Regt fell in & marched down to there company place…the bombardment [commenced] this morning as soon as day light…they are constantly firing all the time but sounded louder and more rapid about 8 a. m. I went up to the lookout & there we can see better on Morris Island for they do not allow the men up top of the sand hills…although they can see the fleet and ironclads…the firing seemed mostly on Fort Wagner…after a while our batteries and the Monitors began to fire on Sumter…it was some time before they hit her…the monitor shots would skip along on the water throwing the water up higher than a house and then plank right into Sumter…how the dust and bricks would fly…there was over a thousand men up around the Lookout…and how they would yell and cheer when they hit Sumter. It made me think when two years ago the Rebels were doing the same thing to Maj. Anderson and his gallant band…for you know they took Fort Sumter from Cummings Point battery which is now Fort Wagner and Fort Gregg…Battery Bee is on Sullivan's Island…". Unsigned but a powerful letter on the Union fleet's attack upon Fort Sumter on August 17, 1863. The original transmittal cover addressed to his mother at Enfield, New Hampshire is included.
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