123rd New York Battle of Chancellorsville Letter.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015

A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 3 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Harlan P. Martin, Co. E, 123rd New York Vols., Stafford Court House, Va., May 8, [1863] to his mother, in part: "…of our having been in battle. We left this place…last Monday…on the third day we crossed the Rappahanock river at Barnett's ford…crossed the Rapidan river at Germanna [Ford.] Everything went smoothly until we got here…the water was about 4 feet depend very swift. Our regiment went to work and built a foot bridge…in about an hour…our advance guard captured about a hundred rebels at this place…marched within 8 miles of Fredericksburg…we were sent out to try to capture a rebel battery. They threw a few shells amongst us without hurting anyone and then skedaddled. Friday we were under fire a number of times, but none were killed till toward night. Our regiment was then sent out as picket when we were attacked by dismounted cavalry. Rebels were in the woods and we were in an open lot. They poured in a number of a number of well directed vollies…we could get no chance at them and they then drove us. There was 5 or 6 killed and a number wounded. The lieutenant colonel [Franklin Norton] was dangerously wounded trying to rally the men. The next day we were hauled around expecting to have a fight…Saturday night we lay in the rifle pits all night…Sunday morning the rebels advanced on us. We drove them at first and killed a great many and took a great many prisoners. We fought them about two hours when they turned our right flank and drove us. Our regiment then retired and was not brought into action again. The rebels were afterwards drove off the land they gained…we slaughtered them awfully…Allen Norton and Byron Briggs was killed…Den Baker was wounded in the thigh. Sid Weer was wounded in the arm and Joe Tellier, Dan Wiles, Aaron Loveland, John Moore and Anos Rhoads were wounded…making 2 killed and 7 wounded. The captain was slightly wounded. Sam Wright was wounded…I got off without a scratch but I got some close calls. We lost our knapsacks and everything we had. Yesterday we crossed the Rappahannock at…United States ford and came back to our old camp…if the rebels claim a victory it was a eat victory to them…H. P. Martin…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included.

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