Raynors HCA 2018-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/21/2018
A good war-date Union officer's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by "Josiah", "In Bivouac near Warrenton Junction, Va., Nov. 16, 1862", to his wife, in part: "…we came in sight of a large splendid mansion which is near by…we are also close to and in sight of the rail road (Orange & Alexandria) and it makes me feel homesick to…hear the piercing shriek of the engine. I don't know what movement is intended but [we] have great hopes if the weather allows it that Burnside & Hooker will give a good account of themselves…last night I had orders to move today…going over I passed Genl. Hooker's quarters & saw a man in citizen's clothes standing outside that I thought was Hon. Henry Wilson…coming back I saw through the window…the same man…he was in conversation with Genl. Hooker and as the Genl. sat with his face partly upturned and the light of the blazing fire reflected from it. I was delighted with his looks. It was one of those faces that we are apt to think have passed away…I stood and looked till I dared stay no longer…[their] countenance full of noble daring & humanity [as] in some of the paintings of our Revolutionary Fathers…I have been reading the Freeman's account of the Convention and I could have cried as memory was stirred…Hamilton was commissioned a 1st Lieut….the cars are again rushing by so near [that] I hear the rattle of the machinery …on the same road that the Rebels have torn up two or more times…a battlefield we passed that day last August and the R. R. Bridge and the cars that were burnt and engines destroyed. That place is but a few miles from here…I have just been out to look at the guard & see how the men are getting along…some of the men are lying right on the ground in the open air…you folks at home don't realize what it is to be a soldier. God grant that this war…may soon cease…Josiah…". Near fine200
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