Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Sgt. Major Marquis L. Holt (signed M. L. Holt), Co. E, 3rd New Hampshire Vols.,Wilmington, N. C., Mar. 5, 1865, in part: "…we are…relieved from the front and are now garrisoning the city…our present camp…is just in the outskirts of the city. We…are…removed from the noise & bustle of the town…I can hear music of a band as it floats upon this still evening air. This mussy is probably intended to cheer…who tomorrow (providence permitting) move onward to meet the enemy in the field of battle…the troops under command of Genl. Schowell consisting of the whole of the 23d Army Corps have packed and stored all their extra baggage, [and] commence a forward movement tomorrow morning…I do not know whether any of Terry's command will participate…as he (Terry) has been placed in command of Wilmington & defences…Genl. Hawley who is now chief of Terry's staff has command of the district of Wilmington without he 2nd (ours) brigade for garrison…we feel well satisfied for…[we] deserve a rest. It is the Second brigade…[that is] better known among this army as the Iron brigade…Lt. Colonel Randlett has been appointed Provost Marshall of the City of Wilmington and our regt is now busily engaged in doing provo duty…recruits are arriving and we begin to have once more the appearance of a regt. The night before the movement…we received our recruits…and armed them all with Spencer Seven Shooters which made us about two hundred and sixty five effective men to start with and since that time we have had only on mean wounded and have received about 80 more…though the last…have not been armed yet. Those men…are of a rough carrictor [character]…we succeed…in making good soldiers out of about four fifths of them. The other fifth either deserting or [are] good for nothing…the exchange of prisoners…is now through and we have in our possession all those sufferers who have so long been exposed to rebel cruelty…one must see them with their own eyes before they can understand the reality…their condition and suffering beggars description…'Sherman's March to the Sea.' The following cheering verses were written by Adjutant Byers…5th Iowa while confined in the rebel prison camp at Columbia, S. C.: and…were frequently sung by the prisoners as a relief to their monotony…'Our camp fires shown bright…while we stood by our guns in the morning…and shouted 'Boys up and be ready for Sherman will march to the sea…cheer upon cheer for bold Sherman went up from each valley and glen…that came from the lip of the men…then forward boys! forward to battle we marched our weary…way…we stormed the wild hills of Resaca…then Kennesaw…still onward we pressed till our banners swept out from Atlanta's grim walls, and the blood of the patriot dampened the soil where the traitor's flag falls, but we paused not to weep…and Sherman marched down to the sea…then Sherman said, 'boys you are weary. This day fair Savannah is mine!' Then sang we for our chieftain…when Sherman marched down to the sea…these verses I have copied…from the Herald of the Union printed in this city…Ned is going to write some and I have written all that I can think of…". Near fine. The original transmittal cover is included. VG to near fine.
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