Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Henry H. (now "Peter") Fulton, Co. E, 20th Ohio Vols. [shot by Rebel guerrillas near Pine Level, N. C.,4/10/65; DOW Raleigh, 4/12/65], Goldsboro, N. C., March 30, 1865, in part: "…we have just come off one of the longest marches made since this war began and are now getting ready for another. I enjoyed myself on the last march very well…some of the poor fellows that had to march barefooted and without sufficient clothes had it hard enough…I will…give you an incident or two of the march. First the burning of Columbia. The Rebs opposed our crossing the Congee river for two or three days when the 15th Corps succeeded in flanking them and effected a crossing. The Johnnies then fired their cot n and left. It was a very windy day and the fire spread. By nine o'clock at night the whole city was on fire. Such a scene I never saw. You could see to read anywhere in the streets. The women were running frantically here and there. The soldiers drunk on foraged whiskey were pillaging and destroying whatever they could find of value while the Generals were riding through the streets trying in vain to restrain the men. The next day you could see the men with gold watches and jewelry, silver plate, musical instruments, books and everything of value….Columbia was a beautiful city but it is one of the has beens now. So much for the benefits it has received from secession. I also saw a man shot to death in retaliation for one of our foragers who was killed by the Johnnies after he had surrendered. He was a man fifty years old, belonged to the state service, said he had never fired a gun at a Yankee; it looked hard to shoot the old cuss, but it was an order from Old Billy Sherman and had to be did. There were others shot in other parts of the army but I did not see them…we are going on another campaign in ten days. The next one will be a rough one and I think the last. The Rebs call it the great combination against Richmond. So much for war…I heard there was a prospect of the '62 men getting mustered out soon but that…is gammon, but next August will see me out at least and I wont fret myself to death by that time…the 76th boys are well so are all the Homer boys…Pete." As in the proceeding letter, Fulton now signs his 1865 letters "Peter." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Near fine
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