Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 5pp. 4to., written by Sgt. Moses M. Ordway, 40th Mass. Vols.,Vienna Station, Fairfax County, Va., Apr. 2, 1863 to his brother, in part: "…our company went on fatigue…we left the road and took to fields…after we had gone six or eight miles some of then men began to fall out…they straggled nearly two miles. At one time I could not find a man that I knew…I began to think that if I could find a barn I would turn in and wait for day light…about four…in the morning I caught up with theta right of the Regt…I found them scattered round an old hotel…found Frank Nichols and we went round to the barn…knocked in a basemen window and crawled into the cellar…were spreading our blankets [when] we heard some one trying to get in. Nichols imitated the barking of a dog and frightened them off till we struck a match and got the best place picked…then we did not care a damn…the 40th Boys are not the boys to stand out in a pelting storm and soon the house was full from cellar to garret…we are now quartered round in different parts of the town. About 25 of us [are] quartered in the attic of a barn…one end is knocked out and you can run your hand through the cracks. This is the place where the Rebs fired upon the cars. They had a battery planted upon a hill…commanding a curve in the road and as soon as the cars came round…with Gen. Schenck on board they let her rip. At the same time they broke open a man's house and took his safe out, stove it in and took about fifteen thousand dollars…yesterday we picked up an old safe and converted it into a fire place…they were fighting yesterday up to Drainsville…all the cavalry here went up and if they got drove we were to go…troops are at work day and night throwing up rife pits…M. M. Ordway…". The original transmittal cover is also included. VG
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