Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A good early war-date Union volunteer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. John H. Chamberlin, Co. C, 5th Mass. Vols., Alexandria, [Va.], June 7, 1861, in part: "…there is camped near us four regiments. The Pennsylvania, the New York zouaves and a regiment from Michigan. We have three bands of music…we have plenty of music…our guards have considerable fun in the night. There is so many secessionists prowling round to find out what they can. Our guards always carry their rifles loaded…and always have orders…to hail every person…if they don't answer…and give the countersign [we] arrest them…if they undertake to run…to shoot them…night before last…two of our boys…saw two men crawling up to them. They fired at them wounding one and the other escaped. They were secessionists. We have had one man shot while on picket…and any quantity of attempts made to shoot others. We are about one mile from the centre of the town…since writing the above our picket guard…[brought] in…two secessionists and one of the guards report being shot at…we are engaged in digging trenches and building fortifications…we probably shall go…down to Manassas Gap which is about 25 miles from here…probably the first battle will be fought down to the Gap as there is considerable…Rebel troops there and they have got the place strongly fortified…this sheet of paper…was taken from the Rail Road Depot which we are in possession of…the Secessionists mutilated the locomotives and other things when they heard we were going to take…the place…it is one of the oldest settled towns in the Union…from Old Hub. who is way down South in Dixie." VG to near fine.
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