Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., "Hd. Qrs. 2nd Corps in the field near Petersburg, Va., Aug. 22, 1864", in part: "…we have only this moment halted here…a detail has or is being now made to clean up a place to pitch Hd. Qrs…on Friday the 12th…we received orders to pack up and get ready to move immediately…we fell in and moved out on the City Point road, marched very rapidly being in advance of the columned reached City Point about eight o'clock. The river was full of transports and workmen were engaged in repairing the dock which were destroyed by the recent explosion…we lay at City Point all night…the ground everywhere near the scene of the explosion was littered with the remains of the warehouse and its contents which was blown to the four winds…after dark we got aboard the passenger boat Metamora with Gen. Hancock and staff…proceeded up the river for Deep Bottom…in the morning we were laying at Deep Bottom. Some of the troops had already landed and all were being got ashore…the troops were all formed and moved out across Strawberry PLains and into the woods beyond…the guard moved…into a fort near the bank of the river where we lay all day, bathing, watching the operations…we had a good view of the Rebel camp laying behind their entrenchments, could see the smoke from their guns and the shells from the Gun boat Aggauam they burst among them, but we could not see anything of our own line it being concealed by the dense woods…there was no heavy fighting that coiled be heard. Monday we sent down sixty prisoners…Tuesday there was very heavy fighting and the loss on both sides was quite heavy. We took nearly three hundred prisoners and it is said four stand of colors although I saw but one and four mortars…I went down to City Point in the evening with some prisoners. They said their loss had been "right heavy"…Thursday……during the day the Rebels made two or 3 charges on our lines but did not succeed in forcing us back…the cavalry however were driven back some on the right…they made the charge about four o'clock P. M. soon after dark we moved with Hd. Qrs. back to Strawberry Plains and lay there Friday and Saturday…very heavy cannonading was heard in the vicinity of Petersburg Wednesday night and also quite heavy Thursday and Friday nights. Saturday evening…the guard was moved down to the pontoon bridge and lay there till the corps crossed and then followed…we arrived at our old camp at the Deserted House about eight…Sunday morning. Some of the 5th Corps had been in there and the place was in the worse imaginable state…a very heavy cannonade commenced soon after along the entire line but particularly in front of the 5th Corps. About eleven o'clock we got orders to pack up again and move to the left. Warren was in possession of the Weldon R. R. and another attempt to regain possession by the Rebs was anticipated. We "the Guard" and the Hd. Qrs. wagons stopped at the Jones house where Gen. Hancock also stopped for a short time. Before night he made his Hd. Qrs. three miles farther out to the left taking the cavalry provost with him and leaving us with the wagons at Jones house…no attack had been made as yet by eight party. Our Regt lost three men on the other side of the river J. Snelling Co. I killed, J. Getchell Co. F mortally wounded, S. Westfall Co. H dangerously wounded…G. S. Youngs." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG.
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