Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
A rare war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 6pp. 4to., written by Corp. James Glover, Co. H, 133rd Ohio Vols., Fort Powhatan, James River, Va., June 29, 1864, in part: "…we stayed in Washington…long enough to see the Capitol thoroughly and most of the sights of all the one horse town Washington is the "one [?]" I ever saw. The Capitol is magnificent more than…my most extravagant ideas. The sight alone is worth…more than all else. The other public buildings are also fine, but the private buildings, stores etc do not come up to my expectation besides they are scattered over the largest part of the District of Columbia…we got to Fort Monroe in the night…we headed up the famous "Jeems" towards Richmond…sent up the Appomattox to Point of Rocks. Reported were sent over to the right to Gen. Terry's Headquarters…and were assigned…near the center about 3/8 of a mile from the Johnnie's works. The first day we threw up bombproof and every day and night after that until we were ordered down here. We lay in the entrenchments. The first night…I went out to a redoubt and had a view of our pickets, the reb pickets and the works. I cloud see them walking along their lines very plainly…I had a fine view of Petersburg through a glass belonging to the Signal Corps at Point of Rocks. It is quite a large place. The Rebs were very busily throwing up earthworks outside. On Thursday the 16th we were sent out to support a battery. The rebs evacuated all the works in front of us that night before and our folks sent out a layer force to occupy them and burn the Petersburg RR. Our position was in the reserve to support a battery. We lay back most of the day listening to heavy skirmishing…the "gun drops" whistling over us like hail. About 6 pm we were drawn up in line of battle and marched to the rear…most of our skirmishers have been withdrawn…we unknowingly were in the advance. Our Brigade Commander-Col. somebody-had orders to withdraw us…but they say he was drunk and wanted to try us. We marched back about half a mile further through some strong works that the Johnnies had left and that were now full of Yanks…we were faced to the front and laid down in an old rifle pit…we were fired upon at the right and left but we were not ordered to fire thinking that it was spent bullets fired at our men in front…when the devils come over the field and onto us like locust…the bullets whizzed through the pine trees. On our left was the 3rd New Hampshire and they broke and fell back for ammunition. The 133d thought they were retreating and they fired a volley and then ran like Indians for about 150 yards when the were soon rallied by Genl. [Robert Sanford] Foster and back they came yelling. Heavens how we cheered. I felt proud of the boys…they never would have ran if they had been commanded…there was not a field officer in sight and when they seen the Vets leave their place and the rebs coming so close it is to be expected they would run, but they returned…by coming back so soon and sticking to it until after 10 o'clock at night. There was three or four wounded in our regiment but most of the balls were high…Fort Powhatan is a pleasant place. It is situated upon the south bank of the James River, was built during the Revolutionary War…has been much enlarged and strengthened since we occupied the James…the river is about…half mile wide and full of steam boats, schooner etc. Large ocean steamers pass every day up and down carrying soldiers and stores. Directly opposite…lies the captured rebel ram "Atlanta". She is a queer looking craft very low and partly covered by a slopping roof…I went with a foraging party down the river…to W. B. Harrison's Plantation…what a fine old place. The house is very large, built of brick and situated in a beautiful park of 50 or 60 acres on the banks of the river. The farm…7 miles long and 5 wide…what a farm of luxury it must have been. What furniture there is left is of the richest kind old and heavy…I made some very important discoveries in the attic among some old papers. Found part of an old deed dated 1742 another 1774 written in London with an English stamp upon it of one shilling…the 57th N. Y…that I have a great many acquaintances are…before Richmond…on our march to the boat we marched right through them. Such is the…rapidity [that] troops are moved…here that you cannot keep any track of them. They are here today and in the morning…their camp ground is all clear…just now there is a steamboat passing with three lights in tow and a whole train of cars aboard. Gen. Grant is building a RR at Bermuda [Hundred] and all the cars pass here…very truly, etc, Jas. Glover…". Also included is a 3pp. 8vo., letter from Fort Powhatan, July 24, 1864 speaking of signaling at night steamers upon the James River and of traveling to Bermuda Hundred under pass issued by a steamer captain. This letter's original stamped transmittal cover is included. Both near fine. (2 letters)
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