Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A great war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on patriotic stationery, by Pvt. Benjamin A. Merrill, Co. K, 50th Mass. Vols. [KIA as Corp., 59th Mass. Vols., battle of Spotsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864], Baton Rouge, La., May 17, 1863 to his friend Dave, in part:"…the Reg are guarding a bridge 9 miles from here on the Clinton road. There were a great lot that pretended they were not able to go with the Reg and so they remained in camp among those will be found Byron [J. Merrill], Richmond [D. Merrill, DOD 6/28/63] and Coleman [P.] Merrill. Last night they were ordered by General Auger's headquarters to be examined to see if they were fit to go up river…them Merrill boys have not earnt their salt since they left Camp Stanton [at] Boxford…you wanted me to speck Darkey. I will wait until I get home before I say much about them [but] I will say this much…I think more of them than I ever did before. We have 3 Negro Reg here and they cant be beat by any 3 white Reg in the field…I can see their camp from where I am now sitting. Since I have been in the army I prayed every day that I might have strength to set a good example for if a good example is needed anywhere it is in the army for of all the habits you can think of you will find them in camp. Richmond has not gone out with the rest this morning. He just went out of here Quinine is the great medicine out here…I have got so I can drink quinine & whiskey first rate…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG 200-300 (Put in Black Americana.) 237. 50th Massachusetts Letter Archive Fro Louisiana. Civil War date collection of four (4) Union soldier letters written from Louisiana by privates Benjamin A. Merrill and Richmond D. Merrill both of Company K, 50th Mass. Vols. dated between January and March 1863. Typical camp news and interesting personal military content throughout including rough passage on the transport ship Jersey Blue while sailing south as part of "Bank's Expedition to New Orleans," a most certainly racy passage about "the girl's legs" which was shaded out by someone other than Merrill, going up the river to attack "Vixsburg," information concerning his father who was also a soldier in the 50th, remembering a "pretty tough boy" who once "showed us his revolver," Benjamin's not "thinking much about" of getting killed who sadly did get killed in battle at Spotsylvania Court House's "Bloody Angle" in 1864 and more including disliking Capt. Ward while preparing to move. Also included are three of the original transmittal covers endorsed by Chaplain Robert Hassall. Letter are overall VG with rough opening affecting the covers, else VG
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