Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., "Provost Guard Hd. Qrs., Second Corps Baileys Cross Roads, Va., May 25, 1865", in part: "…now that the war is over the officers generally are in no hurry to get out of the service. Today Capt. Geddis who was wounded in the early part of the campaign resumed command of the Regt and the Co. officers were set at work…in preparing our muster out rolls the better part of next week and put en route for the "Empire State"…S. E. Blaisdell…his home is broken up. I can do no less than invite him to stay a day or two at my home with your permission…about the Grand Review..it was the Grandest Military pageant ever witnessed on this continent. We have been told by a dozen different correspondents…all about how the troops were received and the generals commanding them. How the streets and buildings were decorated. How the people who witnessed the parade felt and how the soldiers who paraded were pleased and gratified with the parade and reception…I am confident [that] we have made no march on the campaign that hurt me more than that review did and it was the same with nearly every man in the Guard. The march was not particularly long nor did we march very fast, but what hurt us was the hard pavement of the streets to which we have for so long…been unaccustomed. The Guard were the last body of men to pass through the city being in the rear of the Corps and Army. Just before passing the President's reviewing stand a staff officer red up to Capt. Munson who was in command and informed him that we were making the best marching of any troops who had passed. We were applauded as we passed the stand, but that did not help my feet much. It is the general opinion that Sherman's Army marched better and made a better appearance than ours. The men generally being larger, having been culled a little for the occasion. All the smallest, dirty, ragged, dead beats going with their train…it was easy for an experienced eye to tell which army had done the fighting for the last year and the last six months…in Sherman's army the organizations were all full every division was commanded by a major gel., every brigade by a brigadier Genl. and each Regt. by a Col. Many of our Regts, on the contrary, were mere handfuls of men commanded by Capt. Very few of the bridges were commaned by a full Brigadier Gen., and many of them by brevet Cols…most of the divisions are commanded by Brevet Major Genl. or Brigadier Gens. There is to be a field review of the Corp on Saturday…the troops wont swear any perhaps! The troops appear to be in fighting fever again tonight to judge by the yelling and firing among them…for an hour or two it required no great stretch of the imagination to fancy that [we] were down in front of Petersburg again…it is nearly twelve o'clock…the silence of the midnight hour is only broken by the chirping of insects and one or two bands playing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and Home Again" etc…G. S. Youngs." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. A bit light, else VG.
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