Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Leonard N. Miner [Everett's father], Co. C, 7th New Hampshire Vols., Morris Island, [S. C.], Aug. 4, [1863], in part: "…we are encamped in the sand…it flies like snow Y blows into our…eyes…our folks are still mounting guns, building fortifications…digging pits…the rebus keep bombarding us & we them…the Monitor & Ironsides will run up & [?] a spell…we are expecting to see the ball open in a few days…I was at the batteries on Folly Island when the first guns was fired…there has been ten men killed in our regt since the charge, one in Co. I was shot by a sharp shooter while the regt was laying in the entrenchments near the batteries. It broke his leg& he died soon after it was taken off. I was the first stretcher man that got to him & helped carry him nearly a mile & got him board of an ambulance. Our regt was out on picket that night…the rebus usually shell must all the time…to prevent our folks working on their works. In the night we can see them coming as we can see the fuse on fire. Sometimes they burst high in the air & sometimes they strike the ground…shells bursting…amongst all the time & yet there is but a few hurt…they had two smart engagements while we were there. One was just light in the morning , the time the Co. E man was hit & we had to carry him out when the shells were flying & when I came back…I had to go right in range of the rebel batteries…& they were celebrating nicely…[Aug. 6]…I think that Ev [Everett] has. I have not seen him since one week…though I hear from him most every day…they do not give our regt credit for what they done in the charge. They were in the hardest part of it& stood it the longest. They say the Third run like sheep. I expect to go up to the entrenchments…tonight…the fortifying i still going on here on a large scale. I was down to the landing last night & saw a 300 pound rifle gun [the Swamp Angel] that is going to be mounted…up on the advance. I stood up to the breech…as it lay on the ground & the top of it came up to the pit of my stomach…the shooting irons are plenty here…do not for pity sake worry about me for I am seeing no more than I expected when I enlisted & I do not mean to play the coward…". Overall VG
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