Reporting on The Battle of Antietam and Of Guarding Captured Rebel Prisoners.

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

War-date Union soldier's letter, 7 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Halsey Bartlett, Co. A., 6th Conn. Vols., [KIA Bermuda Hundred, Va., 6/17/64], Beaufort, S. C., Sept. 28, 1862, in part: "…we hear of a battle…between McClellan and Stonewall Jackson…McClellan got drove back 4 times and the fifth time he went in…he said 'he should not come out as long as there was one to stand by him.' He went in and came out conqueror…and taking twelve thousand prisoners …there was a great many killed on both sides. Our side lost six thousand. They fought three or four days…there was two Rebel generals killed. The report is that Stonewall Jackson is dead, was killed in battle…it seems to good to be true…last Thursday three Secesh…were brought into camp as prisoners of war taken by the 55th Pennsylvania…while on picket at Port Royal…brought here and lodged in Beaufort Jail. They belonged to [the] Beaufort Artillery…Beaufort is their native place. I was on Provost Guard that day…and I with five more had to guard them from the jail to the general's quarters where they had a hearing or a court martial…afterwards they were sent back to jail…evening they were sent board of a boat and sent to Hilton Head…they are smart looking men…about 25 or 30 years of age. There was a battle down at St. Johns River [Florida] where our men captured 400 Rebels…". VG

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