Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
RUN 155 AND 156 CONSECUTIVELY A great war-date Union officer's battle of Antietam/Abraham Lincoln eye-witness letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by 2nd Lt. John E. Mason, Co. F, 9th New Hampshire Vols., Pleasant Valley, Maryland, Oct. 15, 1862", to his niece Miss. Lestenah H. Stone of Dunbarton, N. H., in part: "…my chest was sent back to Washington when we were on our march as there was not teams enough to carry the officer's baggage…all I had left was one spare shirt and a blanket. All the company books and papers went with the chest. The colonel [said] the books were not worth a cent to fight with. We are now three miles from Harpers Ferry. This Valley is a very pleasant piece of country…divided into beautiful farms which the army is almost ruining for the time. The fences are nearly all wooden ones and make the best fire wood. I wish you could see the regiments that are encamped here. The view is beautiful especially in the evening to see the thousands of fires gleaming in the darkness …tell your Father that I saw Honest Old Abe of the West a few days ago, also McClellan and a lot of other lesser lights. General Burnside I see nearly everyday. We are in his corps. He is a splendid man and the soldiers all like him. He goes very plainly dressed, wears a big hat just such as the soldiers all drew at Concord. He wears it with the rim turned down and a yellow cord tied around it, wears a common soldier's blouse and rides a bobtailed horse. There is nothing fancy looking about him, but he is a good fighter. I have not had on a coat for a month…it is in my chest at Washington and I wear just a common soldier's blouse. General Burnside is scarcely noticed in the newspapers in regard to the last battle, but the soldiers know that he was one of the best generals on the field, if not the best general. Our Colonel [Enoch] Fellows is a splendid man and a brave colonel. He was everywhere with us in the battles and was just as cool when the Rebel bullets were flying thick and fast, as when on a dress parade at Concord. At the battle of Antietam, after we had a hard time of it and were taking a little bit of a rest…a General's aide rode up to Col. Fellows and said "Col. the Rebels are coming." "All right", said the Col. as cool as a piece of ice. The aide thinking that perhaps the Col. did not understand him spoke in a very loud tone and said, "Colonel I inform you as an officer that the Rebels are advancing upon you." The Colonel, nothing excited replied, "Let them come."…tell James I am right end up and intend to be if a Rebel bullet does not lay me out. There is more fun in battle than I expected…Jack". The original patriotic stamped transmittal cover is included. Minor spotting, else VG.
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