Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
War-date Union soldier's letter, 7 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Corp. Marquis L. Holt (signed M. L. Holt), Co. E, 3rd New Hampshire Vols., Morris Island, S. C., Dec. 29, 1863, in part: "…every once in a while our batteries open on the city and then the rebs open on us and a short bombardment ensues. Every rainy or cold night our batteries open on the city about midnight and cause poor Johnny reb a good deal of trouble in the way of thinning out. We had a sample of this last night…I suppose…you have heard of the breaking up of the obstructions in the harbor [Charleston] by the tide & storms. I happened to be on picket the night it was done in Wagner (or Strong)…the beach was strewn with timbers which was used as buoys to keep the chain afloat. Our folks are now at work pulling in the chain at the lower part of the island…neatest to Folly Island. It seems the chain floated away whole…we have pulled in a long piece of it and are still at work…the chain is made of railroad rails chained together and is…very strong…we have now the harbor opened…Sumter has ceased to call our attention…and we have given up firing on it……there has been some bombardment down to Stono lately…reenlisting has commenced in this Dept…mother wrote me that Ned [his brother, Edward B. Holt whose letters we sold in the previous catalog] had enlisted but did not state what regt. he was going into. If he can I should like to have him come into this regt…I was sorry to hear that he had enlisted…if possible have him come into this regt…and I will take care of him and make a soldier of him…so that he will be able to fill his brother's place when he is discharged…the north is getting rather 'hard up' as they have to buy men to fight their battles for them, and foreigners at that, out of the 23 recruits…only 4 or 5 are Yankeys…all the patriotic men enlisted a good while ago and only the cowards are left…ere this you have heard of the execution of John Kendell of Co. G 3rd N. H. for desertion. I…was present at the execution making the second one that I have witnessed…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG to near fine.
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