2024-07 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024
A great early war-date Union volunteer's letter, 3pp. 4to., written on colorful "View of Washington City" patriotic stationery by Charles Magnus by Private David F. McLachlan, Co. K, 14th New York Volunteers, "Camp Cameron, 3 miles N. W. from Washington," n. d., [but, June 14, 1861], to his mother, in part: "The next morning after I wrote you - from New York I had the bad luck to sprain my ankle - it is very bad being very badly swollen and black with the blood settled all about it. I will not be able to walk for a month so the surgeon tells me. We left New York Wednesday afternoon [June 12] & arrived at Philadelphia about 9 P. M. We had great reception - especial care was shown me by the ladies who furnished me with supper, medicine & tobacco & pressed me quite hard to go to the hospital, but I desired to follow the regiment - at Baltimore they were quite still which they are obliged to be, there being about 10 thousand troops camped about the city. We passed the Relay House about 8 miles from Baltimore at 9 A. M. Thursday morning - it is the hotel taken by General Butler's forces from the Secessionists. There are about 2000 men stationed there. We arrived at Washington about 1 P. M. and went to our grounds. There are over 40,000 soldiers stationed within 8 miles around Washington. They had sever fighting last night near Alexandria - our captain [William H. Seymour] came very near getting shot this morning when walking by some of the provokers from the Secessionist's camp. Our men will see hot work very soon - they are a plucky set of men & all are very eager to get at the Rebels. I am now writing on a cartridge box - the men are busily engaged erecting tents- Negroes are far in the majority in numbers here there being at this writing about 40 near by in our camp eager to get on as a waiter for some of the officers - my legs pains me so I cannot write more - D. F. McLachlan, care Capt. [John D.] Babcock, 14th Regiment, Camp Cameron, Washington, D. C." Negligible spotting with some soiling, else VG.
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