Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
A great war-date Union soldier's battle content letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Harlan P. Martin, Co. E, 123rd New York Vols., Raleigh, N. C. Saturday, April 15, 1865 to his mother, in part: "…we left Gouldsboro the 10th…and reached here Thursday…Johnston evacuated the place on our approach and retreated towards Hillsboro and Greensboro. Our regiment led the advance from Gouldsboro…and had some sharp work [known as the skirmish of Aiken's Creek, April 10, 1865] with the rebel Wade Hampton's Cavalry, losing one man killed and 3 wounded…the one that was killed belonged to Co. K from Granville his name was William Tooly [POW Chancellorsville], none of our company was hurt. We met their vedettes about 4 miles…from Gouldsboro. Our regiment was immediately deployed as skirmishers and advanced driving them back very easily till we came to a large swamp with a number of steams running through it. Here the rebs had tore the plank up from the bridge and we had to charge across on the stringers of the bridge and then plunge into the water waist deep and drive them out. Coming across the bridge they had a raking fire on us and the only wonder was they did not kill more. We were about 2 hours in the water…waist deep but when we got them out onto dry land we paid them off…killing 2 and wounding 8…after this they they made but little opposition…their infantry is at Hillsboro 40 miles west of here where they gave out…we heard of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Grant and the talk is that Stoneman, Sheridan & Stanley are making their way to us…all predict the speedy destruction of Johnston's army, but the idea is whether they will fight us or not…but they are soldiers and if ordered to fight will do it, but with no chance of success. A great many think they will give up but I believe we will [have] to fight yet…we will not loose from communications here. Mounted foragers have been detailed again and we move in the morning…Raleigh, the capitol of the state of North Carolina, is one of the finest Southern cities…the capitol is a large and splendid building. They also have many fine buildings, splendid churches, 2 of them, one almost equal in height to Trinity Church, N. Y. City. Very few citizens left on our approach. All seem well satisfied and pleased with the change of rulers and take the Confederacy as a played out thing. The editor of the Raleigh Standard staid here and are to continue the printing of their paper. They are Union men and there office has been robbed by Confederate soldiers 2 or 3 times. Near where we are encamped at the edge of the city is an Insane Asylum filled with insane patients . It is a splendid building of stone…the main building is attached [by] 2 wings…in one wing is kept male…patients…we are not allowed to go inside but from the outside we can see them looking through the iron grates at us…some are crazy as loons, others appear half rational and others quite rational…it may be some time before we get around to communications again…but I want you to write anyway. On the South Carolina campaign you never wrote till we got through…H. Page Martin, Co. E, 123rd N. Y. V. 1st Brig., 1st Div., 20th A. C., Army of Georgia…". The original transmittal cover is included. Overall VG.
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