Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 3pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Harlan P. Martin, Co. E, 123rd New York Vols., Stafford Court House, Va., May 18, 1863 to his mother, in part: "…we are now going to have drills regular. We haven't drill since we came back but have been resting and recruiting up and are…ready and anxious to move on the enemy…there is a great cry raised about Hooker's defeat as it is called. Whatever they say makes no difference to us. We know that Hooker was not defeated and could have held his position…if he wished…he recrossed the river but it was because our rations were nearly exhausted and the river was rapidly rising…which endangered his line of communications. If the river rose and swept away the pontoons…[there would be] no way to get provisions to us…what a predicament we would have been in if we had stayed 12 hours long. The rebels were in no way to follow us…not one of them showed themselves. In the battle of Sunday we killed and wounded three to their one…and on saturday night if it had not been for the cowardice of the 11th Corps, which broke and run without firing a shot, Jackson's command would have been annihilated and the rebel army…destroyed and we should not have had to chronicle a defeat and disaster by recrossing the river. the army is in as good a condition as before…and not in the least demoralized…the army has the fullest confidence in…General Hooker…it will not be long…before we will make another move against the enemy. Our wounded, of our regiment, which fell in the enemy's hands are…at Acquia landing…Sam Wright…had part of his hand taken off…opposite the thumb. Den Baker was wounded in the hip and has been taken to Washington. The rest of our company are at Acquia Landing. Our lieutenant colonel [Franklin Norton] is dead…good bye, H. P. Martin, Co. E, 123rd Regt. N. Y. V…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG
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