Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on American Eagle patriotic stationery, by Pvt. David W. Sharpe, Co. B, 1st Conn. Hvy. Art., "Camp ten miles before Richmond, Va., June 2, 1862," in part: "…we have been marching nearly every day…we have to have our knapsacks packed, guns loaded and sixty rounds of cartridges in our boxes all the time. While…at Old Church we went out scouting nearly every day. The second time…we went out we (with part of the Fifth New York Zoauves) were sent to destroy a turnpike bridge, 200 feet long [and] a half a mile inside of the rebel pickets. We went there, tore down the bridge and took one of them prisoner. The third time we went out we would all have been killed or taken prisoner but for the warning of two niggers. There were two regiments of infantry and one masked battery lying in ambush for us…the niggers met us when we got within a mile of them and told the colonel…the next time we went out…with General Porter's Division and drove the rebels back beyond the Richmond and Harrisburg Railroad [Virginia Central RR] and took over 500 prisoners. Our regiment was on the field but were held in reserve. The were 250 of our men killed, wounded and taken prisoner. We are now in General Sykes Brigade which is the reserve…the attack on Richmond will commence in a day or two…David…". VG
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