Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Harlan P. Martin, Co. E, 123rd New York Vols., Bridgeport, Ala.,Dec. 4, 1863 to his mother, in part: "…prisoners are still arriving everyday in large numbers from the front and are shipped…north. there are about 3000 here now…the boats are loaded with them…yesterday as a squad of prisoners were crossing the river…to take the cars. The pontoon bridge broke and let them in the river. Eight rebels were drowned and one of our men. The current of the river is so swift that nothing can stem it. They were swept down and drowned. One or two swam ashore by swimming with the current…coming out half a mile below. The bridge is about done and they will soon be running across the river…most of the army have come back to Chattanooga…after chasing Bragg 40 miles south. There is a large force after Longstreet in East Tennessee…and [there] is now strong hopes of him and his army being captured…his only chance of getting away is by making his way into Virginia…there is a nigger regiment here now doing fatigue duty. Julius Higley is studying and fitting himself for a commission in a nigger regiment. He will be examined in a few days [He got his commission as lieutenant in the 109th USCT in June 1864]…we shall not get back to Virginia again. We now belong to the Army of the Cumberland…I got a permanent detail…guarding the teams…H. P. Martin, Co. E, 123rd N. Y. V., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 12th Corps…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG
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