Raynors HCA 2017-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017
A great collection of fourteen (14) war-date Union contractor's letters (ten postal covers) written by Harry P. Chard who served in the quartermaster's department. First, he served as a supervisor for military work parties. In this position he oversaw the production of Union soldiers at Geisboro Point's Union cavalry barracks. Then in an undefined position upon a gunboat, Chard served on two Union navy vessels as a member of the quartermaster's department. In April 1864, the USS Althea (originally the Alfred A. Wotkyns) was commissioned into the Federal navy's river service for duty in Grant's Overland campaign. The vessel served successfully throughout 1864 until she was sunk near Mobile, Alabama in April 1865. Sometime during mid 1864 Chard was then transferred to the barque Mary Emma. Here his service history ends and his war-date letters, totaling approximately 32 pages, tell his story, reading, in small part: "…[Geisboro Point, Dec. 14, 1863]…I am situated at this place which is about two miles below Washington and am at work here…I will stay about six months for I ma getting good wages and plenty of fun…my table is a pine board on a pile of hay in the bunk of a soldier's barracks with about 200 men in it, some reading the bible, some playing cards etc…address Quartermaster Department, Geisboro Point, Washington D. C. Care Capt. David F. Brown…[Dec. 23]…it surprises me to hear that you did not know I had left Richmond. I am a kind of an underboss here. I came on with a young man named Fogg…he has a rich uncle in Washington and he got us in. The fun is in the barracks where we sleep. There is six of us here who have 20 to 25 men and they do make a terrible fuss tonight. They flew at the superintendent of the mess house and would have hurt him but he drew a revolver on him and that settled it. I should like to be to the festival on New Years but I cant do it for…I had to call my gang out to work and work all day…this is a great country down here where you cannot do anything without be[ing] locked up…it is a great trial for a Templer down here for all hands are drunk tonight getting ready for Christmas…[Jan. 3, 1864]…there is a report out that there is a squad going after horses and if the report is true I am going to go and see something of the world…[Feb. 28]…I received a…notice from the Wingo Hocking temple of H. V. F. that I was two dollars in debt and unless it was instantly paid I would be suspended…as I do not wish to be dealt with I will enclose two dollars…as I do not wish to give up a cause so honorable as the cause of Temperance…Harry P. Chard, Cavalry Bureau…care of H. Eddie mess house No.1…[Mar. 9]… I can't live where we kill about a handful of greybacks (Body lice) a day. I can tell you we are over run with them. There is about four hundred dirty Irish lying in a large bunk room next to ours and they got crumy and the greybacks crawled through and run us out of our beds so that we can hardly sleep in them. We have had a great time here with a parcel of drunken men…because we would not give them their supper. Mr. Eddie had to go for a guard who came with loaded muskets. The men are now fighting in the bunk room and…make a great noise, but it [is] all the effects of that body and soul destroyer rum…[Geisboro Point, April 9]…I arrived here safe and sound yesterday…after running around Washington…for a pass. I found the tug and have got along first-rate…Andrew Rooms who enlisted in Collis Zouaves is dead. [Died Brandy Station, Va., April 6, 1864.] His father came on with me after his body. Alexandria is the same old place…address Harry P. Chard, steam tug A. A. Wotkyns, Alexandria, Va. Care Capt. Bowen, Harbor master…[Belle Plains, Va., May 23]…excuse me for not writing sooner…they have kept us busy day and night. Sometimes we would have to turn to four or five times thought the night and carry dispatches…now we are ordered off nobody knows…but all judge up the Rappahannock river to Fredericksburg…tonight we move again…we will see some fun before we get back…it is reported that the U. S. Steamer Eclipse was blown up by a torpedo on the Rappahannock but two days ago and all on board killed…we will get a dose of them and the guerrillas on the river…there is plenty of them about…our gunboats are trying to drive them away before we go…[Alexandria, June 7]…being on that expedition…instead of going up the Rappahannock river we went up the Pamunky to the White House [Landing] and we had a glorious time. We seen one old greenback on the shore but he did not fire at us because we had some Bluecoats with us…[Alexandria, June 23]…there is a great many wounded coming in from the front…I am glad to say I don't see any body I know…[Fortress Monroe, Va., July 9]…I have been laying here about a week but expect to go up the river in a few days…[Washington, Aug. 19]…address H. P. C. Barque Mary Emma…care Capt. Allen A. Q. M…[Washington, Sept. 1, 64]…I am still laying at the wharf foot of sixth st…everything is dull here…Washington is the meanest city in the whole Union. No sport except drinking rum and gambling which is poor business…how do the people feel in Richmond about the draft…did you hear about L. Bailey's boat being blown up at City Point in the late explosion…neither he nor his wife were hurt but the boat was a total loss. It belonged to Pickup in Hum St…". Expected wear and condition, else VG
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