Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
Rare war-date Union engineer's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written on "General Post Office," Washington stationery, by Pvt. Jerome Bottomly, Co. C, U. S. Engineers, "Camp Winfield Scott, [Yorktown], Va., Apr. 23, 1862", in part: "…I am in camp now near Yorktown…we are camped by ourselves one mile from Gen. McClellan's head quarters…we have been busy enough to, first making gabions, then building boat bridges, working nights and then laying out works for siege guns. We have made three bridges across Back Creek…some of our batteries are close to the rebels…they are hid by the woods now but in one or two weeks…the rebels will find out they are there…to their sorrow. The hundred pound rifled cannon will talk loud. The rebels have some guns perhaps a good many no doubt. They have a heat army but…we shall whip them. I would be willing to work night and day for two months longer if we could only get [the] lot [as] prisoners…I have not seen any very nice houses around here but some very poor ones for white folks…most of the women call themselves widows. The men are in the Southern army. You read about the siege of Yorktown and think it a big affair. It does not seem so to me. I hear the rebel guns every day and have often been within easy shelling distance of them…some of the boys have had shells whistle past them…but they will not hurt unless they hit and I do not expect to be hit…Direct Bud, Co. C, U. S. Engineers, Fortress Monroe, Va., Care Capt. J. C. Duane, [future Bvt. Brig. Gen. James Chatham Duane] Camp Winfield Scott." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Overall VG to near fine.
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