3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Letter Collection With Battle Content.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015

A good war-date collection of six (6) Union soldier letters written by Private Edward N. Steers [alias Edwin Angel], Co. F, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. Content includes the usual camp life commentary, troop movements and the advance on Savannah and Charleston. These letters (some on patriotic stationery) date from March through December 1862 and were written from Hilton Head, Tybee and James Islands; and "Camp Stephen Olney." Nearly all the postally used transmittal covers (plus one patriotic cover) are included. These letters, read, in very small part: "…[Fort Wells, Hilton Head, Mar. 5, 62]…we had a long passage…you can forward me all the particulars until I return which will be before next Christmas. There is hundred of dollars bet that this war is over by that time…direct your letter to Company F, 3d regiment R. I. V. M., Fort Wells, Hilton Head, S. C. remember my name is Edwin Angel…Savannah was taken on the first. Twenty thousand troops left this fort to go there. When that is taken our work is about done…[Tybee Island, Mar. 22]…while I am writing the shot and shell are flying around me from Fort Pulaski. After we take this fort we are to move to Savannah and attack it. The 3d R. I. is to be an artillery corps and to besiege Savannah. After this we will return home…I must close for I have to look out for the shells…[Tybee Island, Apr. 3]…we shall be engaged in a battle and a hazard one to for we are bound to take Fort Pulaski which is the blockade of the Savannah river. We have it surrounded on all sides and it is madness for them to resist but we expect they will. After we take this fort we are to march on Savannah. We are what they call flying artillery…I am not to be shot for I was made for the gallows…[Tybee Island April 17, 1862]…no doubt you have heard of the battle and capture of Pulaski…the fight lasted for thirty hours constant firing in which we lost only man and the rebels is unknown but they have dug up eleven bodies in the fort…how many more there is they do not know. Yesterday four hundred of the Michigan eighth and two pieces of artillery from our company went out to skirmish and were attacked by over three thousand…twelve were killed and thirty nine wounded in the Michigan company. None of my company were hurt. We expect to march on Savannah every day…the capture of fort Pulaski was glorious. It was our guns manned by the third R. I. boys that maid the breech into the fort…[James Island, S. C., June 13]…you said that they were enlisting another 3 months regiment to go to Washington…don't you ever think of enlisting for you know nothing about sogering and I hope to God you never will…of the South…at Hilton Head…when we landed we had a very good place. The ground was dry and level. The country presented a charming appearance. The cotton was growing…we went to Tybee Island where things were a different…nothing met our view but swamps…we built batteries and took fort Pulaski. There is nothing that grows on this island…from there we went to Edisto Island where we landed all our provisions and where there were any number of niger wenches …while coming here the rebels reminded us that they had a few spare shells left. We are now within five miles of Charleston and have had one hard battle and one skirmish. every day and especially at night our picket guard are fired on and some are wounded…there is now over twelve thousand men ready to hold a fray…the tenth of this month the battle was and a great many of the rebels were killed and wounded…we are expecting to have another hard fight…[Hilton Head, S. C., Dec. 27, 62]…you spoke of my changing my situation in the Cavalry or regular service but all that is now knocked in the head…on account of such a great number leaving the volunteers service and joining the regular…you spoke of the fight…I think that we got…the worst and we always will for the rebel will never be whipped out in the world…". The 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery took part in the capture of Fort Pulaski and participated in the battles of James Island and Pocotaligo, S. C. Overall VG to near fine.

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