44th Massachusetts Grouping

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006

Group of eight (8) items pertaining to Charles Alley, 44th Massachusetts Infantry, including his stencil, 7-3/4”x2”, “Chas. M. Alley. Co. C. 44th Reg. Mass. V.” VG...plus; Autographs of eighty-three (83) members of Company C., 44th Mass Infy, in period journal. Fine...plus; ALS, 13p. quarto, Newbern, NC, November 16, 1862 of Alley’s and reads in part: “...We left the wharf in Boston at about dusk the 22 Oct. on board the steamer Merrimac...landed at Moorehead City on Sunday...I was greatly disappointed in the appearance of the city [Newbern] it is the most dilapidated looking place I was ever in...You will now and then meet a white man here, but they are very scarce, excepting the soldiers, but negroes are sufficiently plenty...Our force consisted of about 4,000 men under Command of Maj. Gen. Foster....Washington like Newbern is a city of negroes, though it is much more city like here than at Newbern. There area few nice places here, one in particular surrounded by extensive grounds finely laid out, reminding one of some of our Northern residences. The damaging effects of our gunboats are strikingly exhibited in some of the houses here, some of them being completely shattered by shot and shell...At first two companies H & C were ordered forward...the first volley from the enemy, whoe were lying in ambush in the woods which lined the stream taking us completely by surprise. The firing was contineud on boath sides of us, the bullets whistling by and falling around us thick and fast; we returned the fire as best we could in the water and continued to do so after we had crossed the stream...we could not see the enemy it being just dark and they being concealed in the woods. We had scarcely reached the opposite bank when were were ordered to fall back that our artillery might shell the place; which they did so effectually that the rebels soon skedaddled, and we advanced without further hinderance...aas we left the town some of the soldiers were so foolish as to set fire to the houses and many of them were soon in flames, creating a brilliant conflagration...” ...plus; two post war letters with good content on his actions in North Carolina...plus; 44th Mass. Infy Roster book from 1900. Fine.

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