6th Connecticut Letter Group

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2018

War-date Union soldier correspondance archive, of nine (9) letters of Halsey Bartlett 6th Connecticut Infantry, KIA at Bermuda Hundred, includes: “...[3/3/1863] Have just had news of two Union victories in or near Virginia. One at Vicksburg, the other at Murfreesboro. Had pretty severe fighting but our men whipped them and took both places. Vicksburg was a very important place for the Rebels....[3/3/1863] They are drafting Negroes down here to get up another Regiment...[4/2/1863]While we were down there a Sergeant in Co I of this Reg. had his heart diseased with love. That is he fell in love with a lady down there and made her his Bride...when we came away we took some of their fair damsels away with us and took them to Beaufort. There was a lady, a widow, with three small children, that was left there that wanted to come with us. Our boats being so full and crowded, she could not come. I pitied her. I did, she almost cried. She felt so bad because she could not come. Poor woman. I was sorry for her. We did not burn her building. All the buildings were there was families in them, we left and did not burn, but two thirds of the city lies in ashes. We brought off about a hundred bales of cotton with us, and many other things very valuable...[4/12/63] arrived in Hilton Head...There was forty four transports and schooners, gunboats, in the fleet that went on the expedition. We took seven iron clads or monitors with us. We expected to make an attack on Charleston...When we landed on Hilton Head a year ago...six or eight buildings on shore riddled with balls and shells. A fort with eight guns and a number of tents, clothing, ammunition and other things left by the Rebels and a mass of woods. Now what a sight comes to view on landing - a wharf one hundred feet long which we have to pass over before entering the city...There is two long buildings where the contraband occupy or dwell. I never saw so many Negroes together in all my life as there is in these two long buildings. I should think there was all of five hundred blacks in these buildings...[5/1/63] We left Hilton Head and went on board the Steamer Saxon on the 18th of last month and was on board...nearly two weeks. We lie in Edisto River ten days. We anchored out side the bar here in Stono River two days...There being very high seas on the boat...some were very sea sick...four or five at a time throwing up or turning themselves inside out...we are encamped in a bed of sand and it is not very pleasant...Our Colonel, captain and chaplain have all arrived at Hilton Head....[5/11/1863] The steamer Alabama tried to run our blockade near Charleston with a schooner at about twleve oclock at night on Thursday ngiht last in which our gunboats attacked them and fired at them. The Rebel Ram from Charleston came down to help them in when one of our monitors which was there sailed along side the Rebel Ram and captured her. They also captured the schooner. They were captial prizes...[5/14/63] We hear that Richmond is taken and that General Jos. Hooker is giving off General Orders there. We also hear that Rebel Generals Stonewall Jackson and A.P. Hill is dead...[7/1/63]Our company have for the last week been at work on the breast works at the upper end of the Island near where the Rebels are. We work only nights from eight o’clock until three...They have batteries enough built to mount forty eight guns and 18 mortars. These bear on Morris and James Island, and as soon as ready to work, they intend bombarding Morris Island and all points where seceession is....They say fourth day of July is the day to celebrate by commencing to open on these batteries and to take Morris Island....When they commence, the blockade fleet will close in and give them a few shot. They have ammunition enough on this Island to last forty days a gun...We worked so near the Rebels that we dare not say word louder than a whisper nor do anything for fear of having a shell thrown at us from the Rebs. All is silent when at work. They have shelled us three or four times while at work, and one soldier from the sixty-seventh Ohio had both arms, both legs and a part of his jaw taken off by a shell. Another had one arm taken off, another had one leg taken off. There is sharp shooters on both sides, ours and Rebs. One of our sharp shooters fired across and killed a Rebel field officer...Captain Payne, our scout, has been scouting on James Island, and he brings some valuable information. He scouts nights and has days to lie off...There was a Rebel spy taken on Hilton Head last week, and the whole of the plans of the breastworks and fortifications were found in his boots....[10/11/63] I can say that they don’t look much like home to me. Sandy soil, people all black, except soldiers. I tell you it is not a very desirable place to live. Our camp was in an unhealthy place while out on picket almost surrounded by a low marsh...there was some very smart Negroes out there and good looking Col. girls too, but they are a dirty set of people. Hogs, hens, ducks, dogs, cats and human all live together. They are a very kind sort of people, if you are hungry and want something to eat. If they have it and nothing to pay for it with, I could get it....They are a good sort of people to get along with. Never trouble you, nor make any disturbance. Always quiet, mind their own business....” Much more. Fine condition.

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