Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 8pp. 4to., written by Sgt. John G. Abbott [MWIA Battery Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863], Co. D, 48th New York Vols. (Perry's Saints), Fort Pulaski, Sept. 17, 62, in small part: "…Savannah…is entirely to the mercy of our fleet…they have the river obstructed below Ft. Jackson and have 2 small batteries to sweep it…2 of our iron clad boats would clear the channel, level their batteries, silence Jackson and let home made thunder rid the chivalry of Savannah adieu…last saturday we sent a flag of truce to Savannah. It came to rain and blow so hard that they past the Rebels pickets unseen [and] went on up through the obstructions to near Jackson when they were hailed and landed on Dr. Daniel's planation. They were under sealed orders which were sent to Savannah. They stayed in one of the plantation houses. The communication returned about 3 p. m. but it rained and blowed so hard that they coiled not get their small boat down against it. They then asked permission to stay all night which…was granted them…the Rebel officers seemed so anxious and hungry that they were invited to take some bread and they waded into it hartily until it was all gone. They said they had had nothing but hard crackers for a long time. Our men then requested some grub of them which the officer in charge said they would furnish as soon as they could go to Jackson…they soon red. with a small note from Capt. J. Penn Jones that they had no grub to give to Yankee Son's of B--S' so they had to stay until next afternoon without a single mouth full…the Rebels were vary poorly clad [with] all kinds of uniforms, most of them were barefooted. The rest…had on the shoes they took from our dead soldiers at james Island. Two of our men was acquainted with one of them…from Brooklyn, N. Y. He was forced into the service with 12 more from N. Y…they intended to desert the first chance and he told them that he would see the 48th in less than a month…he has 2 brothers in our Regt. He asked if they had any white rags with them, but they had none. They would have gave him part of their shirt but the guard would have saw it so they asked our Lieut. and he gave them his Handkerchief…he said that they could not get together much less than 3 weeks…he said that there was not much more than 900 troops in or around Savannah. The rest are in Gen. Lee's army in Md…they also saw their floating battery which lays just above Jackson along the banks and [she] fills every high water. There has [been] several contrabands come in since I wrote before. One load of 23. The next day there was one more down Wright's River in a canoe. He had his heel almost shot off by the Rebel pickets while getting past them. The next morning there was one came down on 2 plank[s] he was a hard looking Nig, mud from head to footHe got them in the night. We have 50 more of them from the Head on Saturday…we are relieved from all fatigue on the fort with the exception of the masons…we received fifty new recruits…and I have almost hurt myself toady laughing at them drilling…they got each 180$ on their enlistment…they ought to have drafted all those that would not volunteer freely…they are not worth the powder enough to kill a Rebel…we was ordered…to be ready to receive our new Major Gen. O. M. Mitchell with regular military honors…we formed in line of battle on the Plank road…as the steamer was not in sight we…broke ranks…about 11 a. m….the Ben DeFord [came in] with the Gen. and staff on board…a salute of 13 guns was fired…[a detailed description of their parading to receive him appears here]…the Gen. then mounted rode to our front and after repeated cheers made a most splendid speech, gave a short description of his military career and…said that he intended to give us a fair chance in the field…he is 45 by his looks. He is gray headed and of medium size…a good speaker…he is the author of Mitchell's Astronomy…the Gen. appears to be liked by all who have implicit confidence in him as a true soldier…his labors in the South West is proof of his ability as a commander…today a dispatch came by telegraph for the Planter to come over to Bird's Point and she was immediately dispatched and she returned again at 5 P. M. with the officer's mail and Col. Frazier and wife of the 47th N. Y. S. V…the Southern army is now in Md at Frederick…we will have to look out or they will burn our Capitol for us…the further they get North the sooner the War will close…I don't like Northern soil to be disgraced by them…". VG.
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