Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
War-date Union soldier's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Daniel D. Barrows, Co. E, 9th Maine Vols., [later Signal Corps], "Camp of the 9th Maine Regt, Black Island, S. C., Nov. 24, 1863", in part: "…the bombardment against the rebel forts is still going on. Sumpter is a mere pile of brick, dust although the rebels still hold it. The north western face affording them protection. The sea face and southern face are entirely knocked down. They are not more than fifteen feet high and that at an angle of forty five degrees. The rebel batteries here are too numerous to mention, but yesterday…our batteries opened on Johnson and Simpkins with an occasional shot at Sumpter and Moultrie. As for Sumpter she has not fired a gun since the first attack…our forces might occupy Sumpter at any time but are waiting to get our new batteries finished so that when we do commence we can silence Sullivan's and James Island, clear the obstructions between Sumpter and Sullivan's Island and allow the iron fleet to pass up…Gilmore has got a battery on Morris that will beat the world. His cleverest mortars and one, two and three hundred pounder Parrotts make the rebs ache. Our troops keep gaining a little at a time. Col. [Guy] Henry [40th Mass. Vols.] with four or five Regts took possession of an island nearly in the rear of Charleston, took a battery and drove the rebs and still holds the position…the bombardment has been so constant and general that the men hardly notice it although they will get off some curious expressions…such as there goes a messenger from the Swamp Angel, to hover over Johnson and other curious remarks…there are a large number of conscripts on Folly Island being put through their course…they are a sorrowful looking set and get…little compassion from the old soldiers. The greater part of them are the ruff, scuff of the Devil and had as well be in Dixie as here for there wont be much fight in them…there is no telling what number of guns we shall have to contend against above Sumpter…on James Island…there…is two hundred more…the taking of Charleston is no child's play…the rebs say as far as heat is concerned the Yanks would live in hell and the swamps of the south is a paradise to them…they have begun to find out that the Yanks can stand most any climate when occasion requires…Daniel D. Barrows". VG
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