Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 12pp. 8vo., 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, Oct. 3, 62, in small part: "…I was surprised when I first heard of Wm. being chaplain…he was sworn into the 23rd Regt at Beverly…he has got a good position at $125…per month…I see that the 26th New Jersey has also gone to the seat of war…they intend to raise 30 in all. Bully for New Jersey but I want her to send better men than Taylor and Simpkins…I don't wonder at them being sent back…I was surprised to hear of Dave Risley being at the Landing. I would like to know how he got out of the Rebel army…he must have deserted…last Monday…the left wing of the Regt…embark on board the Gun boat Planter…with one days rations…we left the dock…with the gunboat Starlight…to the mouth of Bull River where we landed…our skirmishers was thrown out to our front…to scale the woods in our advance. The gun boat went on ahead…and completely shelled the wood…until they came near…to Bluffton and then they threw shells into the town at a great rate. Bluffton is 3 miles up the Bull's on the north side. We kept about opposite the boats. We soon came up to the town which we found entirely deserted. The cavalry pickets left as soon as we landed. We found Bluffton ot be a splendid and vary comfortable town. Some splendid houses and cottages. The church had been used as Qrs. for their soldiers. There was nothing left but furniture in the houses. We took our dinner at Bluffton. We then went…to Pope's Plantation about a mile from town which had been used as a picket station…we then concluded to go to the salt work which was on Dr. Cornel's Plantation…we took the pike which leads to Savannah. We soon discovered cavalry ahead of us…about 1 P. M. we discovered their cavalry drawn up in line about 200 of them. We…began to prepare for the attack but the gunboats threw the grape and canister…so…they skedaddled…they took a circle around towards us but…rode away…we then marched to the plantation houses which we found to be the finest…the plantation was all deserted except by 3 negroes. 2 of them was boys. The other was yellow gal about 19…they had killed a hog…we then went in and found the house was just deserted the dinner still on the fire…everything was tasty…we found any quantity of medicines in his room…we then went to work and took all the furniture out of the house and put it on the Starlight. We also destroyed the salt works, took their boilers. We then killed all the poultry and hogs, destroyed all we could then…took the three contrabands and came down to Bluffton…there is no signs of farming on any plantation near the coast. Everything is going to destruction…nothing but weeds…we stopped at Bluffton and got some fineness pianos…we got at least 4,000$ worth in all…about Elba Island we engaged 5 Rebel boats…succeeded in driving them up the river. We soon engaged a battery of 1 gun at the mouth of the St, Augustine. We soon silenced that. The Rebels ran as fast as possible…we drove the Rebel boats under the cover of Ft. Jackson …the[ir] shot fell far short…we ran up to near the bank and began to land. They fired on…we had the Parrot guns which will thrown over 3 miles. We was up to the obstructions in the river. The fort can do but little damage to any boat while passing the obstructions…our Iron Clads would not flinch before it. We drove in all their pickets…we red. to Mud River where we burned an old ship's hull…we keep bothering them. First one day we go up one river and drive in the pickets. The next day another and so on…we are to be reinforced…to show the Rebels that the defeat on James Island did not seare us…it was only a blunder of Benham's as he was drunk. Gen. Mitchell says he intends to give us a chance in a short time…you wish to know what a soldier wants of velvet ribbon…we have a lot of yellow gals here and they are awful big in their manners so I thought that as velvet is nice and smooth and their legs are nice and rough, as they are used to having cotton…when they come to our lines…I thought they would like to have some for garters…I have sent after it to try the experiment. How do you think it will work. I wish you could only see some of them when they come into camp. They look fine indeed…we have got to have on our white gloves and our boots shining or else we get a lecture…". Abbott's original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG to near fine.
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