Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
War-date Union officer's letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Capt. Ezra S. Farnsworth, [WIA Gettysburg, 7/02/63 & Laurel Hill, Va., 5/12/64, promoted brevet major 4/09/65] Co. H, 32nd Mass. Vols., "In front of Petersburg, Va., Dec. 30, 1864", addressed to Col. and BBG Francis J. Parker, in part: "…after the 'Raid' we made upon the Weldon R. R. We started on the move on the 6th of the month…and returned the 12th…we made a clean thing along the line of our march. We took all that was worth taking…the 1st Div…down more foraging and lost fewer men while they done their full share of work than any other Div. that went on the raid. It was not an exception to see a man with a goose, turkey…or mutton on his gun or over his shoulder…it was…to see a man without something of the kind with him. There was many amusing things to be seen along the road…one was a pony horse that would weigh about 500 Ibs harnessed…with knapsack…two live turkeys tied by the leg…another incident…that caused…5000 remarks was a man in my Co. got a very tall silk hat in one of the houses that he visited and wore it for two or more miles until he became disgusted with the amount of fun…he was the…cause of. Another soldier came into camp when we were halted…with a chamber vessel full of sorgrum (sic?) molasses, another with a churn full of sweet potatoes…applejack, the bane of Genl. Early's army in the Valley was very plenty and the boys would go through a house like rats…after it and they would find it…one of the men…[when] crossing a field…[found] ten Bbls. of Apple Jack found hid under a heap of corn fodder. Apple Jack was the cause of some of the men losing their lives for all the stragglers that were caught had their throats cut…hung or [had been] shot. The 5th Corps seem to be very successful in its movements…to destroy the Weldon R. R. There is about 8 or 10 mils more of the road left that we shall…destroy before long…then it will be all destroyed to within two miles of Hicksford…six miles from the state line of North Carolina…Col. [Joseph Cushing] Edmonds [WIA Gettysburg, Petersburg, Polar Springs Church, Va.] has gone…on a short leave…I am indebted to the Rebels for all the leaves I have had [WIA Gettysburg and Laurel Hill, Va.]…I suppose that the Rebels will give me another one of these days if I wait…as Genl. [William T.] Sherman is out of the woods. I suppose you have hallowed stoutly. Dec. has been…consecrated to our cause by most valuable victories. God speed the day when Peace shall bless our land once more. I will then lay aside the sword and resume the pruning hook…E. S. Farnsworth, Capt. Co. H, 32d Mass. Vols." Minor toning, else VG.
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