Raynors HCA 2017-12
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2017
A great war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. folio., written by Pvt. Robert A. Hubbel, Co. K, 14th New York State Vols., "West Point up the York River about 40 miles from Yorktown, May 10, 1862," reading, in part: "We came here…in pursuit of old Secesh…the evacuation of Yorktown [was] on Sunday last. Our Regt was on picket at the time…as a parting salute they fired shell and shot as fast as it was possible…but the 'damn Yankees' were in the trenches…we did not dare retreat or advance…about 85 shot was fired at us in about 2 1/2 hours from 84 pounders and 64 lbs…as soon as it was known that they had left cavalry and artillery were sent in pursuit and came up with the rear guard…near Williamsburg and attacked them making sad havoc among them. They however formed and turned and owing to the want of infantry to support the battery we were repulsed…our division was kept as a reserve…Wednesday last…was fought quite a battle…about 200 of our men…killed and wounded. Yesterday they were still burying our dead. They dig a large hole and put them side by side with their blankets around them and cover them with earth. Some of them had their throats cut from ear to ear by the Rebels…there was 3 Regts of ours and from prisoners we learn there was 7 Regts of them 2 Regts being Negro…it was the negroes that cut our men eyes out and also their throats. Yesterday two negroes were hung near here having been caught in the act of cutting up our men. They say they were tad to believe that we were coming to take them and send them to Cuba and sell them. [The hanging] was done as a warning to others. Quite a number of prisoners are here. They are dressed in all kinds of clothes, not any in soldier's clothes, but a nasty, ragged set generally. They report that at Yorktown there was a brigade (4 Regts) of Negroes. The works a Yorktown were very formidable. They had in our front about 40 guns…that was left spiked…4 of them 84 lbs…were bursted, all being dated 1862 and built at Richmond. 4 others of the same kind had not been fired…for fear they too would burst…at West Point a rail road comes in…a locomotive and 40 cars are here we having arrived in time to stop their going…our gun boats came up and by one of these lucky shots hit the locomotive…it is that party who were going by rail that our men had the fight with…the Rebsl were in the woods when they fired on our men [who] were in the open field…we charged on them and gained the woods and were repulsed 3 separate times. The first time 7 companies of the 32nd N. Y. were all that went up…was added the 31st N. Y. and here is where we lost the most of our men, 7 Luiets and 3 Capts. of the 31st were buried yesterday…about 60 from the 32 were also killed. We drove them at last…they retreated leaving a number of killed and took their wounded with them. We did not have force enough to follow…but are after them now…the Louisiana Tigers who…is supposed to be the worse in the Rebel service…protected from insult and perhaps death some of our wounded giving them drink and removing them to a house nearby leaving orders that the man of the house take good care of them until our troops came…generally we are treated very bad, they stabbing with their bayonets our wounded…R. A. Hubbel…". Light soiling and folds, else VG
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.