Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. (7pp. counting cross hatching) 8vo., written by Corp. H. Arthur White [WIA Drewry's Bluff, Va., 5/16/64], Co. H., 25th Mass. Vols., Camp Oliver, Newbern, N. C., Mar. 3, 1863, in part: "…Genl. Foster did not go to Charleston as we all was in hope he would…lost all that he took with him to Beaufort…he was very sorry…to lose some of the best troops…a number of the Regts were of his old brigade. He had been…accustomed to…his old troops that he led first into N. C. that he feels rather bad…we don't blame him. He looks now more than ever to us and he gave us (the 25th) the praise of being the best Regt out of the 20 Regts which he reviewed a few days since…we went out over the Trent River to the large plain below the fortifications where the troops were drawn up by brigades & divisions. Regt after Regt almost as far as I could sees. Infantry, Artillery & Cavalry…I saw them pass in review before the Genl. (Foster) with colors flying & bands playing…we play ball sometimes…Saturday afternoon we have no drills…a few weeks ago our boys challenged the 46th Mass. Regt to play them a game which the accepted and we whipped them 50 to 1…they did not want to give it up…and so they played again and were whipped 30 to 5 when then they gave it up. We are to play against the 44th Regt next Saturday. We have some fine players in the 25th. The Col. encourages the boys in such sports and does all he can to arrange things to assist them. The 25th is…in Gen. palmer's Division (First), Col. Lee's Brigade (the 2nd). I saw Gen. Palmer for the first time this morning…he came quietly into camp and just past by our tent and gone over to the 46th Mass. camp…he is a splendid looking man and I hope he will prove himself smart…the town has been used rather hard. All the people who owned them leaving. The soldiers have occupied them and of course did not care much how they used things…the buildings have a worn out appearance …the broad fences have been torn down to make bunks in the tents, fruit trees cut down for fire wood or destroyed by hitching horses to them…the owners would hardly know where they were if they came back…the destruction which follows the path of our army is terrible…I send by Corpl. [Daniel E.] Pond…ten pictures of the boys…he goes to take a place in a Negro Regt [79th USCT]…your affectionate Bro., Arthur." The original transmittal cover is included. Minor spotting, else VG
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