Raynors HCA 2018-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2018
A great war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Charles Orton Co. A, 145th Penn. [deserted while at the bloody field of Cold Harbor, Virginia on June 1st, 1864], "Head Quarters, Attention to Orders, Falmouth, [Va.], Dec. 22, 1862," in part: "..I received your letter…dated 13th…the same day you wrote…some of our good boys bite the durt…we went into the field and we got the word of command…by the right…file into line…as the color company came on the line we had the order to forward…the right of the Regt went in on the double quick…the left of the Regt. could not catch up…we had a broken line…Col. [Hiram Loomis] Brown got wounded and the right broke…the centre broke first and the colors and the color guard came up in our company…the way the Rebs thrower the iron and lead…was not slow. We were in the hottest place. Our company went in with 42 men and came out…with 21…we have 21 killed, wounded and missing. Our company broke and skedaddled when they see the Regt a skedaddling, I with the rest, but [as] the lead came to fart…as we came part [at] a rise of ground I stopped to rest and had to stay on the field till night…they had a rear guard to the field not to let stragglers off unless they was wounded. In the morning In try again. I put my hand in my bosom and told the guard that I was wounded in my hand. They let me pass and I was all right. Then I went to see Dan Long. He was shot in the left shoulder…some of the rest of the boys the number of killed in the 145 was 23 wounded, 150 missing, total 224…we went in with about 500 strong. Our first Lieut. Clay. The one that was put in ahead of Dan in Erie [Penn.] was shot throw the head and he fell dead to the ground…we was left on the field. The night of the 14th the Capt. and some of the boys went out to find the body, but could not so his body was not found…supposed to be buried on the field Dan Long…Wm. Brockway, Henry Martin…Horatio Meray, Orderly Sergeant and a number of others out of company A. Killed, Chauncey Spalding, John Hay of Fairview. Missing James Booker [killed], [William H.] Hunderford [died of wounds 12/20/62], and [John] Harrington [DD, 7/28/63]…I am detailed to cook for [Lt.] Col. McCrary [brevet brigadier general David Berkley McCreay]…he told me to tell you to write him…direct to Co. A 145 Regt. Pa. Vols., Gen. Caldwell's Brig., Washington, D. C. Chas. Orton." VG
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