Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. James B. Sterling, Co. E, 7th Conn. Vols., [MWIA Olustee, Florida, 2/20/64], [Braddock's Point, S. C.], Nov. 29, 1861, in part: "…Fortress Monroe. We left there monday night…there was a very large fleet with us and after about 3 days sailing there came up a storm…the storm increased at about midnight there was a cry of breakers…a gun boat run through between us and the rocks and fired a cannon to warn us of the danger. The wheels of the steamship were immediately reversed…we came within one ship's length of the rocks where one ship had already struck. We moved back and came in contact with the ship that we were a towing…she struck us just back of the wheel house breaking one lifeboat all to pieces…taring up the plank of the main deck…reaching way over the hurricane deck, striking the smoke-pipe braking that down…she was then cut loose from the Illinois and left to drift for herself…about 3 o'clock in the morning there was a signal light discovered on board a stern boat. It was one of distress…the Governor…had sprung leak…her carpenters were unable to stop the leak…it was now a question…to leave them to the mercy of the angry waters…the captain thought…of the skyrockets and immediately sent up one…it shot up very high in the heavens…the steamboat was fast filling with water but the booming of a cannon…that the rockets had been seen…the boat arrived just in time for as she took the last man off her deck the boat [?] and down she went…[sheet two]…we came in site of land after having been on the water for 3 weeks. It was a welcome sight even in the enemies country and…under their guns. The battle was a very sever one. I stood on deck through the whole of it…their fire was directed towards the gunboats…the fire from the man of war was very destructive…they run at 3 o'clock then our regiment…got in order to go ashore…there was something of a race to see who should get ashore first…our regiment was the first to lane. The boat I was in struck the shore…at the same time the boat in which the Lieut. Colonel [Joseph R. Hawley (1826-1905) promoted brig. general; bvt. major general and later governor of Connecticut] was in…his struck about 2 rods back of ours. He shouted to the men to get ashore before we did…the men in his boat were not ready to leap…I had my pants rolled up above my knees and my rifle in my hand. The first man that jumped was Samuel Lincon [Samuel H. Lincoln WIA Olustee, Fl., 2/20/64]…I followed him right quick holding up our rifles. We run for the shore [with] the water up to our knees…Lincon run like a deer…that I could not catch him…when we got on shore the regiment got together on the beach and started to go into the fort. They found the draw bridge down and nothing to hinder them from going into the fort…in the morning there was a scream that would have chilled the coldest heart. In one place there was a man's arm. In another a hand. In another place where a shell had struck there was a man's skull and brains. We left the fort…started out to scour the island…there was a dead body…after half days hard tramp…we came to the farther side of the island. The darkys were not at all afraid of us…went to Braddock's Point…the cattle are running wild in the woods [and] there is plenty of hogs and other wild game…". The original transmittal cover is included. Overall VG
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