Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 6 1/4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Coleman Tilden, Co. H, 43rd Mass. Vols., Newbern, [N. C.], Mar. 18, 1863, to his parents concerning the expedition to Rocky Run during the anniversary of the1862 battle of New Bern on March 14-16, 1863, in part: "…Saturday…our pickets had been driven in and we were called up in the middle of the night to march…marched eight miles to relieve the 25th on picket…I will go back…and…tell you about the attack. There were four Co's of the 25th doing picket duty on the road to Kinston. The outer picket was at a place called Deep Gully…ten miles from New Bern. Our folks had thrown up…breastworks there behind which they could stand and fire…they had also mounted a Quaker gun…the rebs came down Friday afternoon with artillery and cavalry…the commenced with…artillery on our pickets. Those four Co's kept them off for four hours. At last the rebs made a charge to take our quaker. They let up a great yell and charged in…our pickets then retreated two miles to another gully called…Little Gully…at this place the rest of the 25th with two twelve pounders and some cavalry came up and they made a stand. It was a splendid place for a fight, but the rebs wouldn't come any farther…in the morning…we with the other regiments were sent up there, but at that time the rebels made an attack on the other side of the Neuse river on the camp of the 92nd New York. It was feared that the rebels were going to attack Newbern so we were sent back and the 25th had orders to hold out as long as they could and then retreat to the city…the enemy might drive them in but could not get into the city…the 25th staid there all day without any trouble. The enemy trying to coax them up to Deep Gully…at dark we relieved the 25th…the 25th had had whiskey rations given out to them and if they wasn't happy then I never saw anyone that was. Some were too far gone…to be happy, they have taken too much…our company has the advantage…by being color company. When pickets are sent out…the color Co. is the last…and it is also the last Co. sent as skirmishers…about eleven o'clock that night the 46th came to reinforce us…the scouts brought in word that the rebels were falling back…we marched five miles more to a deep gully…our artillery was brought up and placed on each side of the road and the 43rd were drawn up in line of battle on one side of the road and the 46th on the other…in the position…we could have kept ten thousand men off…the cavalry with one of our Co's were sent down the road…to get the rebs to attack us, but they retreated out of sight…expeditions have been sent all round, seven regiments going…to Pollocksville…they were seven drafted regiments. I don't believe much confidence is placed in them…the 43rd, 45th and 51st were sent up there …now the 43rd and 46th were sent after the rebels this time…our regiment was complimented very highly by Gen. Amory…it was a sort of reconnoissance in force by the rebels to see what we were doing…when the "Tigers" advanced the rebs left…Coleman." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG.
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