2021-05 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2021
A good war-date Confederate soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. William C. Ivey, 1st Confederate Engineer's, stationed at Drewry's Bluff Battery, Va., April 7, 1862, reading, in part: "àI learned of the death of Jno. Clarke. I suppose he was a christianàhe is better off nowàtroops are coming down the river on steamers all the timeàthere is a report they are fighting at Yorktownàwe have a good many negroes working on the batteryàit is nothing like completed. We have only two guns hereàthey are not yet mounted. They [are] 8in. Columbiads and the balls weigh 64 poundsàthose who were discharged have to undergo a new tri[a]l soonàthey wont get again discharge[d]àwe have a cook. We pay $10 a monthàand can have our bread baked for 25 cts a month apieceàI shall have mine baked as it is lighteràwhen it is day or two old it is hard enough to knock a male cow off a bridge. I don't knowàwhether we will drill or mount the cannon. They are putting obstructions in the river just below our batteriesàthey are no farther than 80 or 100 ids from our batteryàthey are fighting now down on the Peninsula. The Captain and one of the Lts. took one or two squadsàout on [Negro] patrolling last night. They caught several negroes [without passes]àmy love to every oneàthey are carrying out the guardàmy love to all, black and white and give them a kiss for meàWm. C. Ivey." Overall VG.
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