Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Homer S. Sackett, Co. H, 2nd Conn. Hvy. Artillery, Petersburg, Va., Dec. 6, 1864, to his brother Augustine Sackett, in part: "…here I am in camp right where our front picket line was last July…the next morning found us (the 1st Div., 6th Corps) packed up ready to march…to Stevens station…& took the cars for Washington…found the transports waiting…we anchored for the night in front of Alex…getting to City Point…I saw Gen. Grant drive by in a neat open buggy, two mounted orderlies following slicked up to kill…then at 6 climbed into & onto the cars. It was my luck to get on top…the cars were covered with frost. Twas all one wanted to do to hold on…it was like sliding down hill…we would go down one pitch like fury & just get over the next. In one place both ends of the train were several feet higher than the center [he draws a wavy rail road track here] an hours ride and we were at Gen. Meade's head quarters. We relieved the first Div. of the 5th Corps & now occupy their log shanties…& [are] near the railroad. A high breast work in fronton the camp, a battery directly in front. The 5 Corps have been on good terms with the Johnies & have no picket firing though the lines are but 20 or 30 rods apart. They have been in habit of relieving picket in the day time while the 9th Corps on our right have in the dark. The 9th keeps up a continual picket fire. Our pickets had no trouble last night & I hope will continue…I consider it a murderous as well as useless practice to bang at a shape every time he shows his head, to be shure I would not let him advance one inch…how long we stay here time alone tells, shall try and be satisfied with my lot though I did…swear when I found this was our destination had rather joined Sherman or Thomas. I got completely sick of this place last summer. When we came down here first we had 1730 duty men this time 330. We feel as though the fair thing would be to give us some guns and let us work at our trade as heavies…they wont get many to reenlist. The old regt[s] used to black guard us when we first came out. They don't now. Our name stands high…Homer S. Sackett". The original stamped transmittal cover, addressed: "2nd Asst. Engineer, Augustine Sackett, U. S. Str. Mattabasett, Beaufort, North Carolina", is included. VG.
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