Raynors HCA 2018-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2018
Union soldier's battle letter, 12 1/4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Altus H. Jewel [WIA Fredericksburg, Va., May 3, 1863], Co. E, 77th New York Vols., "Camp near Fredericksburg, Virgi., Dec. 17, 1862", in part: "…last wednesday morning [Dec. 10th] we left camp and marched…to the Rappahannock…the cannon began to fire…on account of the pontoon corps putting…bridges across the river…our batteries began to shell them…they drew us up in line of battle…and planted batteries on the hill in front of us…they fired all day…we lay…with our knapsacks, haversacks, belts with sixty rounds on…all day. At sundown the troops began to cross the bridge. We was ordered to cross first, but our general Vinton was not there…so…another division crossed…the next morning …[Dec. 11]…we…crossed…we heard picket firing. We formed in line of battle…halted in rear of a knoll. They planted batteries on the hill and ordered us to support them…the rebs opened fire from all sides…we lay there twenty four hours with our equipage on, right on our faces. At dark the firing ceased…they let us build small fires…we had to sleep with all our equipments on…with one eye open. In the morning we had to relieve the line of battle in front of us…Colonel [Winsor Brown] French [brevet brigadier general] let us stack arms and rest…[Brig.] Gen. [Francis Laurens] Vinton rode along in front and asked the colonel what the devil he was doing there. He said anyone should suppose that we had gone into winter quarters. We did not see the general [Vinton] again for he was wounded…in the stomach…the ball did not go straight through him but glanced around him. We then put on our equipments, took our guns and lay down…the shelling began hot and heavy. The shells burst in every direction…the skirmishers began to fire…toward night the firing began heavy…the rebs…charge on our skirmishers. The skirmishers fell back and we expected to…charge on them, but the battery opened fire and the relief of the picket line fired a volley…they broke and run…one of the rebs that was taken prisoner said that when when they made the charge that the two companies…fired on them killed eighty…they were boys from Maine …at dark we were allowed to build…fires to make coffee…at eleven o'clock we were aroused by the fire of the skirmishers…we lay down on our faces…the balls would pass over us…one of Co. I…a ball struck his knapsack…another hit him on the shoulder. The ball went through all of his clothes but did not break the skin. One of Co. H's men [Paul A. Brown] were killed. The ball struck him in the temple. He struggled twice…we did not sleep much, but was well provided for I slept considerable through the day…I knew that if I were killed while I was asleep that I would not know anything about it. At daylight we were relieved…there was not much firing through the day…they had orders not to fire unless the rebs commenced on them…we fell back to the river bank. Monday there were not much firing from either side…an officer come along…said that he wanted us to lay down…and build fires in the rear. He didn't give a damn how large…he would go and have an old barn…for wood…some thought we were going to the front …some thought we were going to cross the river again and cross we did. We were the first regiment…we marched…about a mile and stacked arms…at daylight we got up and watched the rebs movements. Our skirmishers fell back and the rebs followed. When they got within a quarter of a mile of the river our cannon fired on them…the shell burst right over them and broke one of the horses legs…they all run back. They did not venture up again…we lay there…until this morning…[Dec. 18]…we are still in camp…it is reported that we are going back to…Aquia Creek…I think that the rebs done a kindness by not firing on us for they could [have] mowed us down like sheep. They had across fire on us with their batteries …they were waiting for us to advance…the army never was so much misused since the war commenced…we were…near the centre…we did not see the hardest of the fighting. The line must extend nearly fifteen miles…our loss was…from five to twelve thousand. I must tell you how…they think of a man here. There was a man in Co. D by the name of [James S.] Palmer…had been complaining some time. The colonel ordered that he must be exhausted[?] when we started. He stood it threw yesterday. I saw him come into camp. He was straggling and using his gun for a cane…he lost the use of his limbs…and…his senses too. [Reported as died of disease, 12/18/1862.] They buried him this morning. When the rebs left the city of Fredericksburg they threw everything into the river…one man got seven hundred dollars worth of tobacco out…there were some of our men killed for I see them and hundreds of them wounded…John Whittaker [DOD 3/27/65] & me cooks…a bully good boy he is too…the rebs are on most all sides of us, but they don't come very near…Altus H. Jewel.". With fully detailed transcription. Light soiling, else VG
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