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. 4to., written, on captured Rebel paper taken from a dead soldier's haversack, by Pvt. Robert A. Hubbel, Co. K, 14th New York State Vols., "Camp about 3 miles from Hanover Court House, May 29, 1862," reading, in part: "…of our recent battle at this place and quite a severe one it was. Our Regt was ordered to move with haversack and canteens…on the morning of the 27th. It rained very hard…the march was very severe…traveling through mud knee deep…our peace was then disturbed by the advance brigade firing…being fired into by a concealed battery of 6 pieces. The 25th N. Y. V., 13th N. Y. V. and 44th & 2nd Maine being the advance brigade…the brigade were acting as skirmishers…the 25th N. Y. V…were cut up severely…182 were killed, wounded and missing. [2nd Lt.] Dick Esselstyne being among the missing [died at Richmond on May 31, 1862 after being wounded and taken POW at Hanover Court House] and is thought to be taken prisoner…the last seen of him was in the hottest of the battle when on a charge upon the battery. They were opened upon by infantry laying concealed in the woods…were so completely exhausted by the fatiguing march that…many of them were taken prisoners…our brigade was on the left…the enemy seeing the reinforcements coming up started…a sham retreat…our brigade and Butterfield's were ordered to follow which we did taking several prisoners…the 44th, 2d Maine, 13th N. Y. were left behind to guard the wounded and support the 3d Mass. Battery…Genl. Porter who commands the Corps arrived stating we were being flanked and unless we arrived back…would be taken…ordered our Col. to about face and go back with all speed possible…giving three cheers…we started…[this] brought our regiment in the advance…when within 3/4 of a mile of…the firing…were double quacked to the scene of action…of my own feelings…feeling as though I could go no further and yet trying to keep up thinking if I fell out it would be cowardly I did keep up…when the order "fire" came and I saw them (the Rebels) fire at us my feelings were not of fear but of returning the fire as fast as possible…such a thing as fear did not enter my mind. I saw many dead and wounded before going into action…the…44th & 2 Maine gave 3 cheers for the 14th and retired…short of ammunition having to stoop and take cartridges from the dead and wounded…were quite cut up. The 25th most and the 44th next…the Rebels were drawn in line to charge on them…we took the place of the 2d Maine where the largest force of the Rebels were…our first volley staggered them and when the 62d Penna. got up…they fled after a few volleys. Then the cavalry charged cutting them up and taking prisoners so fast that 3 and 4 prisoners could be taken be a single man…the force that…have been engaged on their side, a captain of a North Carolina company who was captured, was 11,000 about the same as our own…we now are…at a place called Gaines Mills…our Regt had 7 slightly wounded on the first return fire of the Rebels. Co. H 1, Co. E 2, Co. I 2, Co. C 1 …Capt. Seymour and Lieut. [Fayette M.] Butler…were cool and courageous…they were continually warning the men to fire low and aim well. We went in about 5 1/2 and came off the field at 7…taking all in I am well pleased with the actions of our regimental and company officers. It also gives me more confidence in myself and comrades…I went over the field the next morning and a more horrid sight you can not imagine…this paper I am now writing on came out of a dead Secesh's haversack. I have some buttons I cut off their coats. They were most all North Carolina troops, in fact, all…we have also 1200 prisoners making almost a complete route of their army…the Governor of the state of N. Carolina…would hardly believe it…when told of it…our loss I am not at liberty to state. It is against orders…R. A. Hubbel." Weak folds, with soiling and a bit light, else VG
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