2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
An unusual war-date ink inscribed Union soldier’s 4pp. 8vo., letter written by Pvt. Julius Hayes, Co. G, 25th Conn. Vol. “130 miles above New Orleans, Baton Rouge”, La., Jan. 30, 1863 describing a forlorn sense hope for the Union cause while part of Bank’s Expedition to Louisiana in 1863, in part: “…the Rebels are within 25 miles of us at…Port Hudson. They are…about forty thousand strong…there is about thirty thousand of us…the rebel cavalry and our cavalry pickets fired at each other…about two miles from camp…I see it reported that we had a fight at Port Hudson…the truth is. There has not been one gun fired…if we capture it then…to Vicksburg…to reduce it…if they do not come here & reduce us first…we can never reduce the South. They are only commencing to fight…our officers and men are getting disgusted…scarcely a night [goes by when] some of our men are deserting to them…16 men left in one night…from a New York Regiment and two of our men from Glastonbury, [Conn.]…many more say the[y] will [at] the first opportunity. Our…Lieutenant Colonel & Major have got their discharge and three of our Lieutenants also…they are afraid of something, but we poor soldiers must endure…”. Endure the men did, and the 25th Connecticut along with Bank’s troops helped reduce Port Hudson at the same time Grant captured Vicksburg. Some soiling, else very good.
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