Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
Union letter written by “Joseph Baker” who enlisted on 8/1/1862 into "B" Co. NJ 15th Infantry and was KIA on 5/3/1863 at Salem Heights, VA. This four page letter is datelined Camp Near fredericksburg, December 14, 1862. He writes in part, “We crossed the Rappahannock Wednesday morning Dec. 12th on the Pontoon Bridge. We shelled the rebels 1st so we could cross Saturday morning Dec. 13, 1862. ... At 2 o’clock p.m. our company was into it. The rebels were in a trench and we could have no effect on them for they would fire at us and then crawl down and load and we were out on open fire. Soon up came the 4th N.J. Regt. and then we charged on them and drove them out of the trench. They soon made a stand and the 4th Regt. formed into a line of battle & we to our company & then it commenced. It lasted about two hours. The firing was kept up by our pickets until 8 o’clock & in fact, they were firing all night. ... I will give you the names of those wounded in our company. Ord. Sargt. Geo. Martin, shot in the head, Simon S. VanNess in the knee, Dick Bulgin shot in the hip, Len Cooper in the leg near the hip, John Thompson shot in left arm, Zachariah Seals shot in the jaw, Jim Timmins in the hand, John P. Brink in the hand, Jim Egbert wounded in leg, Wm. Broadwell in the left shoulder. Missing Ed Albertson, Henry Cole, David L. Hayes, and one man I believe. “I” Company suffered bad but they fought well. ... Our troops are in possession of Fredericksburg… I had a bullet shot right through my blanket which was strapped on my back. It was pretty close I tell you. ... The Rebels fight like bulldogs ...”
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