Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A rare war-date Union engineer's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written on "President's House" stationery, by Pvt. Jerome Bottomly, Co. C, U. S. Engineers, Hampton, Va., Apr. 1, 1862, in part: "I am away some distance from Washington…Hampton…is about three miles from Fortress Monroe and a desolate looking place…it was a place as large as Leicester…every house was burned by the rebels last summer…now there is nothing but chimneys and ruin. I started from Washington last Thursday…got to the Fort the next forenoon. We were in a steamer and had plenty of room. I saw the "Monitor" at the fort and had a good view of it…I saw a picture of the Monitor in that paper and you get a good idea of it…the marks showed plainly where the balls struck her in the fight…I have been at work quite steady since we acme here…one more of our company has died. He was taken sick on the way here and died this morning at the fort of pleurisy. It was George Sanborn of Boston…I roomed with him part of the time at Washington and was well acquainted with him…there are a great many soldiers here. The 1st, 16th, 15th, 22nd Massachusetts have passed and the 10th…we were paid the day before we came here. darkies came around with hot cakes and with pies. I do not know how far the rebels are from us but Norfolk is about twelve miles. I believe it was a very pretty place here once…Jerome." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Overall VG to near fine.
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