Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., "2nd Corps Headquarters in the field near Petersburg, Va., June 24, 1864", in part: "…there has been some more hard fighting down by our Corps…the 1st Division especially lost heavily. Last Tuesday we moved about four or five miles to the left…the object being to strike the RR running from Petersburg to North Carolina. By some mismanagement in moving the Corps the point was not reached and the 1st Division became engaged during the afternoon. Three men were wounded during the afternoon belonging to our Regt. Two of them belonged to Co. B…Wednesday the Rebels attacked us about three o'clock P. M. and succeeded in forcing back a part of our line, capturing a considerable number of prisoners, four pieces of artillery and five stand of colors and sad to say one of the colors taken was the 126th. The color bearer James Harper [WIA/POW Gettysburg 7/3/63 escaped] is missing. It is supposed that he is taken prisoner [died as POW Andersonville 9/10/64], but it may be that he is killed. Capt. [Morris] Brown, Co. A was shot dead, two or three other men [Theodore P. Vickery, WIA Gettysburg] were killed …a number were wounded of Co. G. Wm. Demarest, C. Shaw were wounded, the former slightly, the latter still lay between the lines [Shaw died of his wounds at Richmond 6/29/64]…George Hill is missing. The only men left…of our Co. is Sargt. Pasko, T. Seaver and G. Henry. The Capt. is all right yet and is the only capt. there. Platt Blaisdell [WIA 6/22/64] is also missing. We had here under guard…as prisoner…the Capt. under whom Clinton Pasko's brother served. There were six men with him. Some of them of his Co.. I was standing guard over them and in their conversation they…mentioned Natchez as their native city…I enquired of the Capt. if he ever knew a man…named Pasko. He replied that he was well acquainted with him [and] that he had been a member of his company and was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro after being shot three distinct times. The first shot struck him in the face. The second in the arm. He still refused to go back and soon after he received a shot which kill him. I asked him what his occupation was…he replied that he was a printer. He was considerably surprised…that his brother was a member of the same Co. and Regt. as myself…and besides had the satisfaction of knowing that he was fighting on the right side. He, of course, could not see that ours was the right side…most of the prisoners…we have taken evince unbounded confidence in their being able to keep us out of Richmond and [of] finally compelling Grant to fall back to the other side of the Rapidan. They all acknowledge that our boys have fought most desperately and better than ever did…our losses have been immense and probably far exceed that of the Rebels…the guard had to fall in and go out on the line as an advance was ordered…heavy cannonading on our right today and some pretty brisk in our immediate front. It has been intensely hot for the last few days…G. S. Y." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG. 600-800
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