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. 8vo., written by Sgt. Moses M. Ordway, 40th Mass. Vols., Chapins Farm, Va., Oct. 30, 1864 to his brother concerning the battle of Fair Oaks, in part: "…Chapins Farms or Chapins Bluff…is on the north side of the James river…about six miles from…Richmond. We have been on a Devil of a tramp since the 26th. On the 26th our whole corps took the Darbytown road…and kept on till we came to Fair Oaks or Seven Pines where we attacked the Jonnies in their works…we got licked'''like the Devil. We made a charge and the Jonnies to[ok] a part of one of our Brigade Lt. Chase Currier [Capt. Charles A. Currier WIA Crater, Va., 7/30/64]is supposed taken prisoner. One of his company says he saw him surrounded an[d] cut off…he was not been heard of since. The fight was pretty sharp till night when it came on cold & rainy and we were ordered to retreat…it was the roughest time I ever experienced in my life. I got entirely used up so did Joe Fray. The mud was up to our knees in some places and so dark that you could not see two inches before your face. The Reg got broken up…so Joe & myself went into a Secesh house and turned in. We were about two miles from Darbytown [and] we were then some miles inside of [the] Rebel lines. We stayed till daylight when we started on. We found the Reg during the forenoon…the whole Corps fell back to our old position where we now are. Where we had the fight…was about three miles from Richmond. The shot & shell flew lively for a spell…it was the first charge I ever saw and I can to the conclusion it was a big thing…I will write to Sawyer Currier…and tell him what has became of Chase…I don't think he is killed but without a doubt he is a prisoner…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG
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