Countersigns Are Given At Camp Wells, Hilton Head.

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

War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on regimental "Don't Give Up The Ship" patriotic stationery, by Pvt. Halsey Bartlett, Co. A., 6th Conn. Vols., [KIA Bermuda Hundred, Va., 6/17/64], Camp Wells, Hilton Head, S. C., Mar. 6, 1862, in part: "…you wished to know what it is to do picket duty…a whole company (all but the sick) are formed into line of battle and go away from camp where they expect there is chance for the enemy…and stand guard. we are divided into 3 sections called reliefs, 18 on a relief and have to stand 2 hours at a time watching for the approach of the enemy or any one who may come…we have [to] see that no one approaches within 2 rods of us…we have to cry bout "Who comes there?" and if they say friend we will say "advance friend and give the countersign"…if correct we let him pass. I font…we pass him around to the guard tent…and made a prisoner of. We have some words for a countersign such as Washington, Columbus or a word like it…who shares amy tent…there is five of us, one corporal and four privates. First Corporal Timothy H. Eaton…Moses Ferris…James M. Keen…and George W. Chase, Jr…all good boys…First Lieutenant Horatio Blanchard has resigned his commission…and Second Lieutenant Jay P. Wilcox is promoted to his place…we were gone to Warsaw forty days and did not have a chance to go into battle. We have very poor living while there-some of the time 3 dry crackers not fit to eat…with a small piece of pork so fat could hardly eat it, a cup of coffee not fir to drink. The water was sos poor we could hardly drink it…". Also included is the original stamped patriotic transmittal cover. VG to near fine.

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