Raynors HCA 2019-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/21/2019
War-date Union officer letter group written by Captain Dudley Mumford, 19th Massachusetts Infantry, who was killed on May 31, 1864 by a ball through the head while leading a charge at Totopotomoy Creek, Virginia. Nice group of nine (9) letters, multi-paged, and read in part: “...[8/4 Morrisville, Va.]we shall have as rough a time as ever in trying to take Richmond which city I am confident can never be taken from this side of it for we have tool ong a line of railroad to keep to get supplies and the city is too strongly fortified, but if attacked from its southern side, we could keep the line of the James River for a base of supplies and could cut off their supplies and stand them out...I should almost like to see the Johnnies take Washington and destroy it. It would be a good thing for us if they would for one could have some of those Regts. who have been lying around there for two years and who have never smelt gun powder, the 14th Mass. for instance...[8/8 Harrison Landing] We marched 20 miles expecting to catch the Rebels who were supposed to have a force of 8,000 at Malvern Hill. We marched around their pickets and came upon their rear. Found not 8,000 but 2 companies and one battery of 4 guns. We captured their guns and some of their men. We found if we stayed there we would havea pretty hot place, and we left not before finding that a force of 75,000 were coming in 2 columns from Richmond to wipe us...[10/2/1862 Bolivia, Va.]I am in command of the Company...I think it is about time for Sumner or Genl. McClellan to let us rest. We are used up. When we were here before, we had 980 men for duty. Now we have 106 men. Our Company had 85, now we have 16 men for duty. I have 43 men off wounded. The fact is our brigade is completely used up...Still it is a comfort to have Genl. Sumner say, as he did, that the 19th Mass. and the 1st Minnesota Regiments were the only two Regiments in his Corps that did not break but retired orderly and saved the day. If they had broken our Army would have been panic stricken and we would have been defeated....I suppose you have learned from home that I got knocked off my pins at Antietam. A piece of shell struck my pistol which was in the holster and knocked me over & over...My eyesight was for a time rather dimmed by unnamable stars...[10/3/1862 Bolivia, Va.]I am in command of a Company of 24 men, 17 of which are unfit for duty. The men are completely worn out and we expedct they will let us stay long enough to recruit al ittle and then send us after Secesh again...It is not a very pleasant thing to have the bullets whistle past our ears & men falling in every direction and then for a variety to have a shell come along making a noise similar to a little child when it is pleased such as ‘oooo’ then with a crack sharper than a rifle, it bursts sending the pieces whizzing in all directions...After the fight is over, you are weak in the knees and are lame...Uncle Abraham visited us the other day with Genl. McClellan and was received with great enthusiasm by the troops. We think Mac is almost an angel and if they don’t want trouble, Mac will be kept in command. The men fight under him better than they would under any other man...[12/6/62 Camp near Fredericksburg] I am officer of the day and having one of my old Sergeants here now, he having got well from wounds received at Fair Oaks, I make him do some of the company work, he being familiar with the names of all the men which have been members of the Co....[12/21/62 Near Falmouth, Va.]You have no idea what a feeling there is in the old Army of the Potomac agains Burnside. The opinion is that a man who will try to capture 6 lines of earthworks with infantry alone, for we could get no position for our artillery, ought to be sent home. When our Brigade charged these men, 4 lines of rifle pits filled with men, and a perfect storm of bullets going over our heads, and behind those men their batteries pouring shells, grape & cannister into our Regt. It was a perfect impossibility to carry those works by storming them. Our colors went dow 11 times and as many times were they raised...We had a speech from Genl. Howad the other day when he thanked us for our gallant conduct, etc, both on the 11th & 13th and ended by saying ‘God bless the 19th Massachusetts and the 7th Michigan Regts. If all the troops had fought as gallantly as they did, we would have been in Richmond long ere this’ The boys gave him 3 cheers...[7/13/1863 Camp near Funsktown] report says tomorrow Sedgewick and all troops on the right are to advance and try to turn the enemy’s left flank and we are to hold this place...We have a strong place and the enemy havea stronger. If we have to advance on their works, I shall feel llike trembling for I feel as we cannot take them anyway....There is an old saying in the Army of the Potomac that the 2nd Corps never were whipped. I won’t say that but I can say we never lost a piece of cannon and never will. I rather think our little 4,000 fighting men can whip their might. At Gettysburg we whipped double our number and with the men in such spirits as they are at present time, we can do it again...” More. Fine condition.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.