Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
War-date Union soldier's letter, 8 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Harvey H. Martin, Co. D, 7th New Hampshire Vols., Beaufort, S. C., July 14, 1862, to his uncle, in very small part: "…we left Fort Jefferson the sixteenth of June…up to James Island where the Third [Ne Hampshire] had a battle a few days ago…we had time to go up on the [batt;e] grounds. We found some of the unfortunate Third that were wounded in the battle at James Island. They report it a very hard battle and the rebels were superior…they stated that they had three batteries…they had a road prepared under ground so they could retreat back to the next battery without being seen…they had all the advantage of our troops…about one thousand of our men killed and wounded. Now, they have ordered our troops off of the Island…they are mounting there gun boats and [we] are going to shell them out…the Island is so surrounded by gunboats that they cannot get off of the Island without being blown up and I wish that not anne [any] get off alive…we stopped at Port Royal…we had only to go up to Beaufort…up the Savannah…it is supposed to be the pleasantest town of S. C. and thought to [be] a summer's resort of the Southern aristocracy…this is a considerable village. The streets are laid out in very good shape. The buildings are not like our Northern, a great many of them brick, cemented over on the outside…some of the houses are getting old and you can see the outer lay out…they [are[ some very nice houses and very nice gardens…when the troops first came here almost every house had a nice porticos on it…one…said to be worth three thousand dollars. It seems by that, that the owners were pretty wealthy set…goodly [?] darkies we have seen. Some that were waiters for their masters and [I] have had a talk with them. The[y] all seem to be glad to get away from them. There is fifteen or twenty hundred Contrabands here…some in the village and some out on the plantations…on some farms they raise cotton…the steamer we came on was the Ericsson, a mail boat…there is about to thousand troops here…there is any quantity [of] rebels. They very often fire across the river at our pickets, but don't kill any of them. They try very often to come across but…get what they deserve. They have tired two or three times…last night the cavalry were called out double quick…one of the boys of [our] company shot himself [while] out on picket guard…the gun fell and struck against something and exploded…three killing dead. There was also one of Company's B…shot…but will get better…H. H. Martin." Also included is the stamped transmittal cover. Overall VG.
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