2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
Union soldier's 4pp letter written by William Clark who upon the breaking out of the rebellion, he organized a company and drilled them, ready for service, but they were not wanted at that time, and disbanded. But soon men were wanted, and in August 1861, he, with others, raised Company "B" of the 85th regiment, and were soon in active service. He was captain and his previous experience made him a valuable man. The regiment did noble service, and Captain Clarke was promoted to lieutenant colonel and soon was in command of the regiment, which position he held at its discharge in August, 1865, having been brevetted colonel. Datelined Headquarters Fort Wessels, Plymouth [NC] May 12th 1863 to his mother, some cross written with original cover. In part, "It seems so singular that we should be way up here in the country-such an old fighter as Gen. Wessels (and I might add his brigade if it would not be egotistical)-building forts, doing picket duty, and embellishing our camp as though we were to make this our permanent home while our old Potomac Army and fighting and dying to reach that same goal for which we strove so persistently a year ago. ... We came here a weeks ago last Sunday by steamer 220 miles from New Bern while by Washington [N. C.] over land it is only 60 miles. We lay in buildings in town 4 days waiting for our baggage ... There is not much left of Plymouth. It was a neat old town of about 3,000 inhabitants with pretty streets, beautifully shaded, and some very good dwellings. The Rebs last winter came in and each burned his own property before they were compelled to get out. The best of the village is burned. ... Yesterday we were entirely out and all of us-my mess-went down to a negro woman's and bought our suppers. We get hard tack, coffee and salt pork. Can have flour if we could bake it. While in the village, we hired wenches to bake us biscuit-good and heavy.
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