Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
Sgt. Albert Newell Hubbard, a 28-year-old farmer from Windsor, Mass., enlisted in July 1862 into Co. B of the 34th Mass. Infantry. HE WAS IN THE SHOT-UP COLOR GUARD AT NEW MARKET! For the next 3 years, he would see many battles eventually being wounded in October of 1864 at Cedar Creek, Virginia. Hubbard’s letters came onto the market a number of years ago and this one was a real “keeper” because in it he gives his first hand experience at the battle of New Market. It was at New Market that the famous V. M. I. Cadets charged the Union lines. What we are offering is an 11-page “diary” style letter that Hubbard mailed home. Apparently, Hubbard would send home a portion periodically. This portion covers from April 27 to June 7, 1864. On the back of the last page Hubbard signs his name, “A. N. Hubbard.” The diary is written in pencil, a bit faint in places, but all readable and many pages are stained (as if they went through the Civil War!). The overall “character” of this piece is great and a wonderful item for the Massachusetts collector. While most of the diary doesn’t say a lot, the portion on New Market is great and the piece can be displayed with that portion showing. In part, “May the 14th, 3 miles from Woodstock It rained some. We started at 11 and went through Woodstock, New Town and Mount Jackson and got to New Market. When the Rebs began to shell us but it was almost dark and so we did not have to go into the engagement but the artillery did and silenced them. Then we went into camp or rather lay down in the rain. Was called up twice in the night. ... May 15 New Market It rains quite hard but the Rebs are here in great force and we have got to fight. They came up in line about 3 o’clock and the fight commenced and the boys fell fast. We were ordered to charge on them and charge we did. There was all of our color guard hit but me and I expected it. Then we had to retreat and burnt the bridge across the Shenandoah and marched all night and all day when we went out there from Woodstock we marched 27 miles in 7 miles and rested only twice, once 5 minutes and once 10. So you see we were spent. .. May 30th The morning is fine and we had fresh pork and fruit. They went over and buried our boys and found some of our boys that were wounded and left by the Rebs. Johnny Miner was among them and found some in a barn wounded and left them. ...”
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