Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A good war-date Union surgeon's letter, 2pp. folio, written by Asst. Surgeon William C. Towle 23rd Maine Vols., Poolsville, MD, June 23, 1863, to his wife, in part: "I little expected of being here when I wrote you last…military necessity sent us here…the prospect does not look very flattering for that. We had a very sad accident in Co. H this morning. Two young men Brown…and Hobbs of our town fooling with their guns snapping them at each other when the gun of Brown being loaded, unknown to him, went off and the whole charge went through Hobb's head killing him immediately. His body we started on the way home. DSo much for fun…there was a battle last Sunday at Ashby Gap…we could hear the firing very distinctly nearly all day. There are over 12,000 men between here & Leesburg which is about 6 miles from here. I crossed the pontoon bridge at Edward's Ferry…its 220 feet long & about 20 wide. Supplies come by the canal to the Ferry & are conveyed across this bridge…the Me. 10th is here…the rebs appear to be doing some damage in Md. & some of their forces are not far from us…the men in our Regt…have voted to stack their arms after next Monday…there will be trouble if Gov. attempt to keep them longer. We have a left side in the house that Jenkins died in. The bill at the house was between sixty and seventy dollars none of which was paid…it was too bad for they are good Union people & have lost a great deal of property by the war. It would have looked better if they had paid this poor manned left the body here. they seem to be very kind people & do all they can for the soldiers…we may start at any time but…it will depend…on the movements of the Rebel army…this place or near here…perhaps on the other side of the river will yet be the front as the Rappahannock was all winter…the 23rd Me. stands very high…it has been mistaken by many for regulars in the manner of arms. We think they cannot be beaten…W. C. Towle." The original transmittal cover is included. Irregular lower margin, else VG
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