Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
A good war-date Union officer's letter, 1p. folio, written by Captain Augustus Alonzo Hoit, Co. A, 34th USCT or 2nd South Carolina, (former captain 8th Maine Vols), Morris Island, S. C., Apr. 21, 1864, in part: "…we are once more on Morris Island. We arrived here from Fla. at two…and found things about as we left them. We came here to relieve white troops…the Fla. expedition has amounted to nothing…we hold several places there, but they are perfectly worthless to us and it would not surprise me to hear that the troops…were withdrawn. It will be impossible for us to…advance upon the rebels…on account of the scarcity of troops…Col. Montgomery takes command of all our forces on Morris Island today…Mr. Reb will meet with a warm welcome…our major [B. Rider Corwin] has been in arrest since…December…it is doubtful if he ever rejoins the Reg. I have been acting major since Maj. Corwin's arrest…I shall try hard to get mustered in as major in case Major Corwin does not rejoin the Reg…there are several prominent officers trying to secure the position and I may not succeed…direct your letters…Capt. A. A. Hoit, 34 Reg. U. S. C. T. Morris Island, S. C…". On the verso Hoit outlines the military standard for the formation of men in line during inspection, in part: "Positions of the Soldier" numbered from one to eleven, reading, in part: "1. Heels on the same line, as near each other as the conformation of the man will permit. 2. The Feet turned out equally…3. The knees straight without stiffness…5. The shoulders square…7. The elbows near the body…9. The head erect and square to the front. 10. The chin near the stock…11. The eyes fixed straight to the front and striking the ground about the distance of fifteen paces.". Minor toning, else VG
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