Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
War-date Union officer's battle letter, 2 1/3pp. folio, written by Lt. Col. Luther Stephenson, Jr. [WIA Gettysburg, 2x Petersburg, Va. 6/18/64 & 6/22/64 and future brevet brigadier general], 32nd Mass. Vols., "Camp near Spotsylvania C. H., [Va.], May 20, 1864", addressed to Col. and BBG Francis J. Parker, in part: "I enclose herewith a copy…from [Capt. Edward] Shepard's diary to give you an idea of the doings of the 32d since we left winter quarters…this is the hardest campaign of the war, the most desperate fighting and the usual bad success. We are…behind entrenchments and cannot advance because before us lay the enemy behind strong works…what Gen. Grant is going to do no one can imagine. He has got a bigger job on his hands than he expected and has proved no match for Lee as a general. The people are doomed to be disappointed in their new God. Our loss has been very heavy, more than 50,000 in killed, wounded and missing. Some estimate the actual loss…as high as 60,000; up to the 13th, 30,000 wounded had passed through Fredericksburg according to…Miss. [Dorthea] Dix. Our loss is 8 officers wounded, 18 men killed & 118 wounded. Eight of the wounded have since died. Most of the killed and many of the wounded were left on the field. We sustained the greatest loss on a charge on the enemy's works in connection with the 9th [Mass.] & 62nd [Penn.]. We were sent in under the command of Col. Prescott which was…equivalent to no commander at all and were exposed to a terrible fire in front and on the flank and finally compelled to retreat…with bullets and shells following us think…no men in this army ever went so near their works again…many of a brave soldier of the 2d bridge left wounded on the bloody field waited in vain for help…but our Gen. [Grant] proposed to advance when Lee requested a cessation of hostilities to bring the dead and care for the wounded…Lee did not see it…and our dead are unburied, our wounded uncared for. Are the people yet ready for McClellan or must they meet with more reverses before they come to their senses? I prefer to leave the service as soon as this campaign is over…if I can get my discharge. If you se an opportunity for me to obtain an…as an agent clerk or something of the sort please bear me in mind…Stephenson." Minor toning, else VG
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