Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A good war-date Union surgeon's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Asst. Surgeon William C. Towle 12th Maine Vols., Morganza, [La.], June 26, 1864, to his wife, in part: "We arrived here…after a passage of one night & day. The scenery on the river is very monotonous-plantations and negro huts, negro huts and plantations. Baton Rouge is quite a pretty place formerly the capitol of the state. The state house a large brick building was destroyed by the Rebs. The deaf & dumb asylum is a magnificent building. Our Regt when there last year used a part of it for hospital. We passed a dead body floating down the river. It was a horrid sight. We received no shots from the guerrillas though we passed a number of points where they occasionally show themselves . The boat that we came on had a man shot…last trip down. There are between 25 and 30 thousand troops here. Gen. Reynolds is in command…Gen. Sherman has taken command of the defenses of N. O. We belong to the 19th Army Corps. The Rebs are all around us but there is no danger of their risking an attack…we have a number of gunboats here which could do a good business of the Rebs should they come within range…I had about 50 up to surgeons call this morning…I saw [?] yesterday. [He is] now captain in Dr. [Seth C.] Gordon's Regt. [1st Louisiana Colored Troops]…he is…a good officer and has not been sick a day since he has been here. He says he has been in 18 engagements and has not received a scar. There are six Maine regts here viz., 12th, 13th, 14th 15th 29th and 30th. I have not had time to go around and see them yet…our camp extends for 4 or 5 miles on the river mostly encamped inside the levee. Dr. Day of the 29th has been dismissed …I don't know the charges preferred against him. Dr. Howard will undoubtedly now be promoted…I have been interrupted…by a member of the 30th…he says it is very sickly in their Regt. They have lost 23 men in the last 17 days. Their Regt which numbered 1800 strong when they came out is now reduced to less than 400, most 300 were killed & wounded in the battles on the Red River, some deserted and the rest died. All that I have seen want me to try and get into their Regt. Their surgeon Dr. Carr has resigned. Dr. Brashin has died and they now have but one Asst. Surg. If I could be promoted to surgeon I should like it otherwise I should not care to change Regts. Our Regt. brought a nice lot os sanitary stores from Portland. One splendid quilt all covered with patriotic sentiments with stars of red, white & blue…God bless the Sanitary Commission. It is doing wonderful things in the army not only supplying the poor soldier with bodily comfort but cheering him up to think that [?] friends at home are doing all in their power to aid and assist him…Wm. C. Towle…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG
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