Raynors HCA 2018-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2018
A great Union officer's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on U. S. Christian Commission stationery, by Major Joel B. Baker, 8th New York Heavy Artillery [colonel 10th New York Heavy Artillery February 1865], "Army of the Potomac. Before Petersburg, Va., July 17, 1864," to his wife concerning his dressing as a private in battle to avoid danger, reading, in part: "…we are doing fatigue service such as building and tearing down forts. Night before last we shoveled down a fort which was taken from the Rebels on the 15 of June. It was on a high hill and from it we could see Petersburg some three miles away. I counted 8 church steeples. We did not get through till 11 o'clock yesterday morning. The rebels saw us…and paid their respects by sending some shots from a Whitworth cannon. The first and second went over our heads and plunged into the crest of a ridge beyond us throwing the dust and sand a great ways up into the air. The third and fourth shots fell a trifle short. The fifth went a little to the right and knocked a stump all to pieces. Our batteries opened on the fort from which the rebels fired…and soon silenced their big gun…it is the impression that the fighting for Petersburg will be conducted by sieging no more charging upon the rebel works. There has been no charging since the 23 of June…the last account…from Washington gives…a prospect that the Rebels who have made the raid in that direction will be bagged…it will raise the drooping spirits of our army and nation…I am to be still further promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel [he wasn't promoted Lt. Col. until Jan. 17, 1865]…but I do not…expect it as it belongs by seniority to Maj. [Erastus M.] Spauling…Major [James] Willett [WIA Cold Harbor, 6/03/64-promoted colonel 7/12/64] who makes the nomination is strongly opposed to promoting Spaulding. He is home wounded…you have no fear of extra danger from [an] increase of rank…I do not believe it to be any officer's duty to…expose himself to the enemy that they will be certain to pick them off. No officer wants to go into a charge mounted…I dress as near like a private when in danger as I can…letters still continue to come addressed to those who died at Cold Harbor…young Coe says he saw Edwin Taylor after the battle at Cold Harbor. If so Edwin cannot be a prisoner…I am positive that he did not see him…if he had some one else would have seen him…for we were all watching & hunting for him. If he saw him after the battle leaning against tree he must have been back off the field and safe…where all the rest of us were…Joel." Light soiling, else VG
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