Raynors HCA 2017-12
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2017
A great early war-date Union volunteer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Ira F. Gensel, Co. I, 25th Penn. Vols., [2nd Lt. 4th United States Regular Infantry, MWIA Fredericksburg, Va., 12/13/62 died 12/28/62], "Maryland Heights 1 1/2 miles from Harpers Ferry, July 4, 1861", in part: "The sun…never shone on a clearer or brighter sky than…on the 25th Regt. Penna. Vols. this lovely…84th of our National Independence at the…scattering little village of Point of Rocks…on the eastern shore of the state of Maryland and twelve miles by railroad from the spot…we had in camp…5 companies of the New York 9th and 6 companies of the Penna. 1st. This morning…all of us were out on the parade ground when the band commenced playing the Star Spangled Banner. Our men fired a salute in honor of the glorious 4th after which I took a stroll through the village, here secession and Rebellion…partially began its work. A large bridge had been erected here just in the outskirts of the village by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, but the hand of the incendiary had applied the match and nothing now remains but the abutments…a very narrow pass along the rail road…had been blown on the track. The company have removed it and the cars now pass up and down the railroad…on the Virginia side the Rebels have a cannon planted and their men are walking about with muskets…one or two shots was exchanged between our men, but no one was hit. I proposed three cheers for the Union when one of the rascals hallored for Jeff Davis…the country through which we passed was the most rough and mountainous I ever saw…sparsely settled and poorly cultivated. All along the road the bridges had been burned, the track torn up and the telegraph line destroyed after our men commenced advancing on them…the rebels fled and the Union men are once more permitted to express their sentiments. At Knoxville…several flags were displayed…the town would have been burned if this had been done a few days ago…about six hundred of us arrived without accident, many overcome with fatigue…one or two companies of Rebels are now at Harpers Ferry compelling the Union men to go with them and join their ranks. Some have escaped and are now here begging Col. Stone to send men to protect them…he has concluded to do so and will soon start…we have been on the go for 5 days and I feel almost used up. The longest march we made was 22 miles in one day…we are in the place occupied by the Kentucky Secession cavalry a few days ago…Ira F. Gensel." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Minor toning, else VG.
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