Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
Rare war-date Union engineer's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Jerome Bottomly, Co. C, U. S. Engineers, "Camp near Falmouth, Va., Jan. 18, 1863", in part: "Before you get this…there will be some movement of this army…I do no think it possible that Gen. Burnside will try to storm the works as he did before. We had orders to be ready to move…but they were countermanded perhaps the cold weather is the reason…I bought a pair of boots…at Belle Plain landing for six dollars that is very cheap…we need boots here in the mud…one of the citizens at Salem offered one of our fellows seventeen dollars for a pair. Most all the rebels that I have seen wear blue overcoats that they have taken from our men. When we were building the bridge a rebel officer with a nice blue overcoat on rode up on the other side of the river and called for our men to "stop firing". They stopped for a minute when we waved his sword and sung out "Halloa! Hurrah for Jeff Davis". He did this three times and was fired at by a hundred men…but did not fall…though he was only a short distance off…he did this…to show his daring. Gen. Franklin's corps crossed over the bridge we built. It was three miles from the city…I hope the army will not move on my account though I know the war ought to be settled…Your son, Jerome." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Overall VG to near fine.
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