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, 4pp. large folio., written by Sgt. John G. Abbott [MWIA Battery Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863], Co. D, 48th New York Vols. (Perry's Saints), "Camp Perry, Dawfuskie Island, S. C., April 11, 1862," in small part: "…well Pulaski has fallen. The stars and stripes now float over its shattered walls…it [the attack] commenced yesterday the 10th at 8 o'clock A. M. by Tibee…the bombardment commenced and by ten…it was going on in earnest…the balls and shells was flying at a great rate…at 5 minutes before 11…a shot from Little Tybee had struck the flag staff and down came the Secesh flag, but it was soon put on a short pole and stuck up in the center of the fort….about six feet above the top of the walls. The fire was kept up with fury on both sides…they [rebels] must have had it warm inside working the guns…almost every shot was telling in the doomed Fortress. The Rebels fought bravely…at 3 p. m. their flag was shot away the 2nd time but was soon stuck up again. The batteries kept up the firing so that at least one shot…would be in the air all the time and often a half dozen at once. The fort fired about 17 times per hour. The firing was kept up until 8 o'clock when it ceased…11 o'clock at night…it…commenced again by the batteries on Tibee and was kept up until the surrender. The Rebels did not return the fire until about 7…a shell from Little Tybee…bursted right over the flag staff and down came the flag the 3rd time…by this time the pieces was flying out of Pulaski at a great rate…the 11th the Rebel flag was seen to be waving…and then it was took down and the white flag was hoisted…a boat was sent from Tibee and one from our battery on Bird's Island…they found the fort all breached and some of the places large enough to have marched a whole Regt…the bombardment…lasted 28 hours…when the boats arrived at the fort the Rebels had their arms all stacked in the center…the Col. was not a Jersey man as represented but a Yorker. His name is Col Armstrong. He is nothing but a boy. There are about 400 in the fort and nearly all Dutch and Irish. They lost 1 killed and 4 wounded in the fort. They seemed nearly all pleased to see our boys and said that they wished we had come six months ago…their time was out last January…but the Rebels forced them to stay…the honor…is due…to the troops on Tibee Island for they…done the whole fighting…except the batteries we built on Jones and Birds Islands, have kept the Rebels from reinforcing them and suppling them…the gunboats laid off and looked on…it is now the 12th and the Old Flag of 76 is floating…over the spattered fortress…our loss was 1 killed and 10 wounded…the loss is not much on either side…the gunboats are all ready to move on up to Savannah…the Secesh are all packing up now…and moving out…they are nearly scared to death…the blockade has moved up to the fort…Gen. Hunter says we have laid still…to long…the gunboats will soon clear the way for us…the prisoners will be sent up North as soon as we can send them. They are very sociable…I wish that you could have seen…the balls flying and the flash of the cannon…". VG to near fine
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