Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Corp. H. Arthur White [WIA Drewry's Bluff, Va., 5/16/64], Co. H., 25th Mass. Vols., Newbern, N. C., March 18, 1862, in part: "…our company was so stationed that I was not able to send word…the Mass. 25th was on the reserve so that they was not brought into…much danger…yet we were considerably exposed and suffered a little loss. Co. H lost not a man…the worst art of the affair with us was that after the battle our Co. had to lay out as it were in the rain two nights guarding prisoners while the rest of the 25th were quartered in some of the finest buildings in the town…(we were about five miles from town.) There are some splendid buildings here…we had the greatest difficulty in obtaining food as the Rebels had no provisions in the battery and we could not obtain anything of the quartermaster as he was in town. The first night we lay in a low wet wood before…the position of the rebels…after a march of eight or ten miles…we were leg weary…my pants were thick with wet mud all night…which caused the muscles in the calf…to be very sore and lame and troubled me a great deal but not until after the battle…it came on so that I could hardly walk [editor's note: This soreness was caused by a build up lactate acid in his muscles do to a lack of worn down after exertion.]…that night wrapped up in a very large thick rebel blanket made of a carpet. (They have a great many of them. We took a large number)…I pit on a pair of dry socks…also a thick pair of rebel ones which I bagged among other things also two pair of rebel drawers and over them a pair of secesh pants…before I could get any thing to eat I was ordered away to guard prisoners while they buried their dead. We were all day not getting in until supper time. It was not a pleasant job as it rained a great deal…we buried 25 rebels among them a major and a captain. We lay at this place (a sort of a brickyard near the RR in side of the defences. We had the prisoners [that] we took inside some old buildings. They numbered about two hundred.) until the next morn and then we started for the city…which was about five miles up the RR. I could walk some better but was troubled some and therefore took charge of some of the lame rebels. We arrived in due time at the burnt bridge and found all our party waiting to be put over. While there Mr. [Chaplain Horace] James passed by and told us the news…we crossed the river soon…I have got two new pairs of pants…and a new cap…your affect. son, Arthur. (rebel ink is not very good I find.)" The original transmittal cover is included. Minor spotting, else VG
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