2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A good war-date Union soldier's, 2pp. 4to., letter written in ink by Sgt. William H. Broughton, Co. D, 16th Maine Vols., "Camp near King George C. H. [Va.], Dec. 21, 62 to his father noting on his regiment's performance at Fredericksburg, reading, in part: "…my chance of getting a commission is pretty fair now, there is not a single commissioned officer in the Company who will be captain…I shall get the 1st Lieutenancy…tomorrow there is to be a rigid inspection of the regiment at 10 A.M. Any paper that have an account of our charge in the Battle of Fredericksburg I want you to send me. If our regiment get their just do, they will get the honour of making the most gallant charge of the War…when a regiment charges against such fearful odds as the 16th Maine Regiment charged at this battle, they ought to get their just do…of our Company that was in the fight, all that were wounded will get over it, except one…he has not been seen since he fell on the battle field, his name is J.A. Parsons, I saw him when he fell, he is either dead or…taken prisoner. I can imagine how you and Mother felt in regard to me…after the battle…I am still in command of the Company…". Ten days after his sixteenth birthday, Broughton enlisted in 1862 as a private in the 16th Maine. He became one of the army's youngest officers by being promoted to lieutenant by the end of the year. After the battle of Gettysburg, he commanded a company due to the heavy losses his regiment sustained during the battle. He served faithfully throughout the remainder of the war and was captured at the battle of Weldon Railroad, Va. on Aug. 13, 1864, and was paroled after being held a short time at Libby prison. He was discharged on June 5, 1865. Irregular left margin with negligible text loss, else very good.
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