Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
Union solder’s letter written by “J(oseph) F. Prime” who enlisted 8/22/1862 as a Corporal into "F" Co. NH 13th Infantry and was wounded 9/29/1864 Fort Gilmer, VA. the four page letter is datelined Camp near Fredericksburg, Virginia, Wednesday morning December 17th, 1862. In part, “...last Thursday morning the bombardment of Fredericksburg commenced ... we were marched across the river into the city ... which was a complete wreck there was not a building standing in the whole city but what had had a bomb shell fired thru it. One house in particular had 54 shot holes in it ... the Rebels fortified themselves on the hill about two miles beyond the ciy ... by the way there was a piano in Fredericksburg and I am going to send you a piece of the ivory from one of the keys of that piano to remember Fredericksburg by. ... Saturday night we were ordered up to take one of the Rebels batteries by charge of bayonet ... we charged to within 20 yards ... when we were met by a regular blaze of rebel musketry and were shot down like everything when the 25th NY broke and run through our ranks and caused the 13th to break and run ... we all pitched into a deep gulley and lay there till the firing ceased ... the next morning we were counted up and found 40 killed or missing ....”
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