Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Robert Henry Greenfield, Co. I, 130th New York Vols., "Camp Suffolk, Va.," Jan. 31, [1863], to his wife, in part: "…we have been on a march and on the 30…we came upon the Rebel pickets. We had not gone more than one mile before we came up within one half of a mile of their main body. Our artillery had not opened on them yet…there was s shell come just over our heads and then the ball opened. Our artillery opened on them and the very first shot…killed ten of them. They shelled back and forth for three hours then they fell back about one mile…and made another stand. Our regiment…lay just back of our artillery to support it…at day break we charged on them. It was an awful sight when we come up to their dead that they left behind…through the shelling we lay flat on our guns. There was some nodding and dodging when the shell came over us. Capt. [Rowley P.] Taylor was struck with a shell and killed instantly. He is captain of Company C. Co. A lay just to our right and two was killed instantly within eight feet of me. [Possibly John Keghan and Charles M. Wood.] Pretty close call I recon. One shell struck just in front of us. It rolled almost to us and it struck something and bounded over our heads. Adjutant Briton [1st Lt. Russell A. Britton, POW Todd's Tavern, 5/7/64. Confined Libby Prison] was slightly wounded in the face…there was nine killed and more wounded…we drove them seven miles and then they made another stand but in one hour we had them on flight again. Our regiment was up within fifty rods of their batteries. Twice their shot and shell struck all around us. We was in the woods at this charge and tree tops and limbs fell all over. At one place we waded water up to our waist. Kernal [Col.] Thorp took lead of us and we would follow him anywhere…the first few shots I felt some scared but my fear soon left me when I heard the dying soldiers groans and their sheiks as they were struck by the Rebel shots. Courage is far better than fear in such a place…I lay by the side of Albert Swift. I could not help looking up sometimes some of the boys would laugh when the shells would go pass…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 with us…Robert H. Greenfield." VG
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