Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
A good early war-date Union minuteman's letter, three columns on section of a Manassas Gap Railroad manifest form, measuring 10 3/4" x 17", written by Sergeant James A. Bailey, Co. E, 5th Mass. (3 Months) Vols., [n. p., but Alexandria, Va.], July 7, 1861, to his friend, in part: "…I went down to Washington…& while there I saw a regt come in. I…saw on the back of the knapsacks "Mozart Regiment" [40th New York Vols.] Recollecting that the West Cambridge Co. were in that [regiment] I made a rush & soon had the boys by the hands…I also went to the Capitol, to the senate & house & saw how they did things. There is going to be some work done in this state pretty quick. The last few days there has been a number of Regts come…here & tomorrow several more are coming in…we have been the farthest Regt in the direction of the rebels …but now 2 or 3 have gone ahead of us…there is a heep of soldiers in this neighborhood going down the river to Washington…as far as you can see are the tents & camps. In the river are war steamers & gun boats with there "Bull Dogs" pointing towards "dixie"…it is pretty tough work marching …[July 8]…this morning here is a great deal of firing with heavy guns…speaking of him I kind of want to go & yet I don't want to. Things are just getting interesting & we shall probably take no part in it…we have been the advance guard of a large army when we were only intended to protect Washington & if we don't see a fight it is not our fault. We have done our duty…Jim." Minor soiling with some weakness at the folds, else VG
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