Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 7pp. 4to., written by Sgt. Moses M. Ordway, 40th Mass. Vols., Fort ethan Allen, Va., Sept. 15, 1862 to his brother, in part: "…we left Bedford…went direct to Boston. We formed the Regt near the depot and marched to the Fall River depot…took the steamer Bay State for Jersey City…the boat was very much crowded…we passed up by New York in grand style…took the cars for Baltimore…it was reported…that the last Regt that passed through Baltimore…had to fight through so after the cars had started the officers gave us ten rounds…a piece. It made the boys as crazy as coons. You would have thought the whole Southern Sates were going to be annihilated…as we passed through New Jersey we saw some very fine country…the northern part of the state is better than the southern…it was to Philadelphia that is the only place where we were treated decent since w elect. They took us up [t] the Soldier's refreshment Hall and fed us in tip top shape…then we formed in and marched throughout he city…there was a complete live of men, women, children and more young ladies and prettier than I ever saw. The aristocracy some of prettiest women I ever saw lined the streets and kept us shaking hands all the way through…we had to ride in luggage cars on board seats rigged for the occasion…we all made a grand rush for the street and…there we[re] three girls for every soldier. We all went in for kissing all the prettiest girls. The women in Philadelphia esteem it a privilege to kiss all soldiers that pass through [since] so many of their own have gone to war. The Federal pickets commenced some after we got through Baltimore. We passed over the road that was torn up…by the Rebels. We passed over the Long Bridge that they destroyed…New Jersey and Pennsylvania are the only states where the patriotism…is kept up. We crossed the river…to Harve de Grace on a ferry boat that took across 16 cars all loaded. We reached Washington Wednesday…Washington is the meanest hole I ever saw…the Capitol is not more [than] 200 yards from the barracks. I saw an old sow with a litter of pretty large pigs rooting around the Capitol steps besides numerous other hogs. They are as plenty as dogs in Boston. Saw any quantity of them in Pennsylvania avenue, the best street in the city. We had to stop at the Relay House to wait for another train…you ought to see the Niggers grin at us all along the way…I used to have a great sympathy for the negroes. It is all gone now. I wish the Devil had them all…we were ordered to Fort Ethan Allen on the heights…about 7 miles from the city. There is a chain of forts around the city…they are fighting at Harpers Ferry. We can hear them from here…it has been reported that a battle is expected here…if they want to fight let them come on. We have seen lots of the boys that before Richmond. They are a hard looking set…our pickets are advanced about five miles out in Secesh…they bring in Rebel scouts occasionally…if you have any idea of enlisting you had better give it up. One of the family is enough in the business…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG
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