Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 7pp. 8vo., half on patriotic stationery, written by Pvt. William Hazen Noyes, Co. E, 12th Mass. Vols. "Camp I think half way between Sennaca Falls & Darnestown, Oct. 27-28, 1861", in part: "…it was reported that we should move back farther from the river which we did Friday…the next (Saturday) morning…the order "fall in with knapsacks" came…where we are going nobody knows but the Col. The whole brigade is here with lots of other troops. Gen. Abercombie is in command here…of the battle at edwards Ferry or a little above there there 15th & 20th Mass. Regts were in the fight & suffered severely. Both Regts lost…between 200 & 300 each. Gen. Baker was killed, Col. Lee of the 20th is supposed to be taken prisoner & all their field & staff are missing except their Lieut. Col. & they lost most all their Capts. & Lieuts. Some companies lost their capt & both Lieuts. The 15th suffered very near if not full as bad…it was poor Generalship in marching them up there. The rebels fired on them from 3 sides & the fourth side was a hill almost straight up & down…they had to fight or run down that hill into the river to the boats & perhaps get drowned as a great many did…reinforcements could not be sent to them without being cut up…the Tammany Regt. was in the fight but did not suffer as much as the 15th & 20th. The Rebels captured 2 field pieces & the colors of the Tammany Regt. There was a movement of troops all around Edwards Ferry yesterday, some going toward Harpers Ferry & some in the same direction that we are. It is the opinion of some of the officers that we shall march to Chain Bridge (8 miles this side of Washington) & cross there & move up the river…there is also reported battles in Missouri & the success of Gen. Fremont & a reported fight at Manassas Gap & the defeat of the Rebels…[Oct. 28]…the tents are all mixed up…a company (detailed from the different companies) of sappers & miners or pioneers started this morning with their axes, shovels…etc to clear the road…we are in a piece of woods and there has been several camp grounds near where we are. We are not more than 3 or 4 miles from Darnestown…there is Regts scattered all around from Darnestown to Edwards Ferry…Gen. Baker must have quite a large force under his command troops from Mass., Conn., N. York, Penn, Maryland, Ind., Minna., Wisconsin etc are represented here…W. Hazen Noyes."
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