Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Solomon Hoffer, Co. F, 50th Penn. Vols. [MWIA Spotsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864], Beaufort, South Carolina, March 10, 1862, to his cousin Henry C. Gingrich, in part: "…I was 5 miles [on] the turnpike out to manage a lot of negros. They work there at a fort…to put a few cannons…to keep the pike clear from the rebels [so] they can not get to Beaufort with an army…we are safe enough as long as we are here. We have pretty strong pickets all around this island. They must come with an awful heavy force before they cross the river, but we have only about 3,000 men here and two pieces of artillery…the gunboats can go all around the island and the river is about a half a mile wide…we build a new wharf. There is a great many niggroes here and they must have work or they steal like the devil, but they don't [all] steal…and further our men goes…over to the mainland…to scout and plunder and steal, but they generally get [into] trouble with the rebel's pickets. There was 15 over the other night…killed 3 rebels that was on guard…they wounded one of our men badly. They shot three bullets into his right leg but he is getting better…we got a lot of men and women brought here to farm this land and look after the nigroes as they put up the cotton…if we get over on the mainland we do not [expect to] get much cotton…we see every night three and four great big fires. [Intelligence] from our spies and the nigroes…these buildings along the river they [rebels] burned themselves…this turnpike goes out to the railroad…called Scott Neck…a depot there and that is 7 miles from Port Royal Ferry where we had the battle at New years…it is 19 miles from Beaufort…they have batteries there…the[y] is the nearest rebel soldiers…Solomon Hoffer…". Near fine
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