Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
War-date Union soldier's expedition/raid letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Robert Henry Greenfield, Co. I, 130th New York Vols., "Camp Suffolk, Va.," Jan. 16, 1863, to his wife, in part: "…I have been on picket most of the time…we have been on five marches since we have been here in Suffolk…the last we were on was the hardest march that the one hundred and thirtieth ever witnessed. We were gone from camp 3 days and 2 nights…we marched in the mud up to our knees. I stood it first rate only my boots hurt my feet…I pulled off my boots and went barefoot …we came to…a place called Holland's Corners…we started on and crossed over in North Carolina. There we crossed a swamp and lay there until about three…in the morning. Our cavalry pickets was drove in then. Our regiment was called in line of battle at the ford where we had crossed…our regiment was in the advance…there was two of Corcoran's regiments of the Irish Legion…they was at the battle of Fair Oaks. There Corcoran was taken prisoner…since he has been released and [has] raised the Irish Brigade called the Irish Legion. The rest of our forces was composed of the 112 Ny and the 13 Indiana and one Pennsylvania regiment and six pieces of cannon and Speers' 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry…the Rebels did not come in sight but…then it was in the daytime and they was about one mile off…we started for Windsor about twenty five miles. We got there…and come on the Rebel pickets. We took two prisoners and the rest run…we formed in line of battle…but they did not come…orders came that we had to go back to Camp Suffolk that night. Our regiment took the lead and at nine…our regiment was in Suffolk…General Gibbs [said] that the 130 regiment never had there match on marching…Mite [Pvt. Milon Parker, Co. I, 1st New York Dragoons, DOD Washington 9/10/64 buried Arlington National Cemetery grave 13-8344] did not go. A great manta of the other regiments fell out along the road after they got inside our pickets…Robert H. Greenfield." VG
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