2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A great war-date Union soldier's, 4pp. 8vo., letter written in ink by Sgt. George H. Fisher, Co. H, 16th Maine Vols., White Oak Church, Va., May 9, 1863 to his sister concerning the retreat from Chancellorsville and of offering to buy an officer's commissions, reading, in part: "… The last letter I wrote was when we was behind intrenchments…we was not attacked…in our retreat across the river [our] division was the last to leave the woods but not the last to cross the bridge…the rain was poring right down…it was very cold and not one half of the men had a blanket…there is a vacancy now in our company…our Lieutenants will have to rise before any one can be appointed. Our first Lieut. is on Gen. Berry's staff and does not want the captaincy. The second [lieut.] has been recommended for that place…he told the colonel that there was but one man in his company that he would recommend as a second lieut and that was Corporal G. H. Fisher. The col'n asked him if he had no sergeant in his company that was fit for it. He told him no. Well, the colonel said that he could not consent to jump a corporal over a sergeant [and] that there three old sergeants that came out as first sergeants and that he could have his choice of them…perhaps with a little money and influence it could be changed. I am sergeant now fourth in rank. If you could get second Lieut. J. D. Conley promoted to captain [he was promoted 5/22/63 to captain] and me to second lieut. it would suit him first rate. Don't let this go any further than the family…I don't want anyone to know that I wrote any thing about it. If money will get me a commission tell father not to spare it. Use all I have got…". Fisher never got his officer's commission, but he did make the rank of 1st sergeant by 1864. Minor toning, else very good.
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