Raynors HCA 2017-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on patriotic stationery, by Pvt. Charles W. Manning, Co. B, 13th Mass. Vols., Hancock, M. d., Dec. 9, 1861, in part: "…we had a little fun…over in Virginia…when we went to bed the captain told us to place our guns & equipments beside us…about 2 o'clock we were routed & with a part of Co. A went down to the river & in a few minutes were across. We took the road leading to Bath…supposing there was a lot of Rebels there but we kept on in perfect silence…by light we were in the little town. Everything was still as death for the folks were not up yet. We got in front of a large dwelling house where the folks had all left…taking with them all their things…we broke ranks & went into the house…on the mantle piece in the parlor there was a vase of peacock feathers…any Rebel troops…all left the day before…they numbered 10 to 12 hundred. The lieut. told us to go & get us a breakfast…I and 5 or 6 others went up the road…we came across a lot of geese & we surrounded them [and] gave them a pelt over their heads with our guns…when there was an old woman came out & began to blaze away at us for killing her geese…we told her to cork up…before we came away…I managed to get a 20 cent skin plaster & this I will send to mother…that is about all the money that they have over here in Dixie…we had a nice dinner out of the geese & never stopped when we were eating them to think they had Seceded…C. W. Manning." The original transmittal cover is included. Minor toning, else VG
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