Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Daniel D. Barrows, Co. E, 9th Maine Vols., [later Signal Corps], Fort Walker, Camp Campbell, Hilton Head, Port Royal, S. C., Nov. 6, 1861, in part: "…our expedition left Fortress Monroe the 29th…we got to Hatteras where we had 12 hours pretty hard weather…we then struck a gale…there was but one step between us and eternity. The old Goatsacoalcas was a perfect wreck with 1200 men aboard…but we crowded on all steam and made the blockade of Charleston the third morning. We had a fine view of Forts Moultrie and Sumpter running within five miles of them. The Charlestonians expected we were to attack them. They were in a devil of an uproar until we passed them. That night we came to anchor off Port Royal…15 miles north of Savannah, 40 south of Charleston. The bombardment commenced in the morning of the 7th against the batteries on Hilton Head, containing 30 heavy mounted guns and after a continued firing by 20 gun boats, 2 frigates and 2 sloops of war the stars and stripes floated triumphantly over the Rebel battery. The enemy fleeing in confusion…about 7000 of them. The north battery on the opposite shore containing about the same number of men and guns were attended to and after a few shots blew up…all of this was accomplished in…six hours with the loss of only six men…it was a fine sight to see the shot and shell fly among the rebels and to see them take leg bail from the island. The amount of spoil taken has not yet been ascertained…it is immense in guns, ammunition, stores. We landed in fine style and a beautiful spot 12 miles from Beaufort. We are out on picket every other day…the way we take down the pigs, cattle, sweet potatoes and oranges is a caution to Rebels…we took but few prisoners…our hospitals are full of men sick with the measles…and every conceivable disease…I had a bayonet run accidentally through my leg taking two small pieces of the shin bone and coming out the opposite side cutting the cord and touching the main artery. They sent me to the hospital but…I did not stay there long. The old Butcher done it up and told me I must not go out but the first chance I got I left and crawled back to camp and have not been back…since. My leg is very lame but I am in hopes it will get better soon. This victory we have achieved is of the greatest importance stopping all communication between Savannah and Charleston…we shall have some bloody fighting before we get through being in the heart of the enemies country. We have lain on our arms every night but one since we have been here…we have got them on the stampede now…we were unfortunate in losing three of our fleet in the gale. The Governor was sank. She had but few men on board being loaded with horses and provisions. The Belvidere and Union put into a Secesh port to save their lives and were taken as prisoners. The Belvidere had 600 men on board which are prisoners. The Union was loaded with horses and provisions…I send you a piece of the timber which came out of a beam that broke on board…the old thing was rotten as punk…if the men could have had their choice to have staid aboard or met an enemy 40 times their number they would have chosen the latter…my leg pains me so that I must stop…I am afraid I shall have to go to the hospital again as my leg is swelling badly again but…I shall come out all right…in a few months for it wont take a longer time than that to whip every cursed sesesh…in the south…D. D. Barrows". Light toning, else VG
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