2022-07 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2022
Very long Confederate Soldier’s letter written by “Benjamin F. White” who enlisted, 5/26/61 in Co. F of the 6th North Carolina Infantry as a 2nd Lieut. White was twice wounded; 1st at the 2nd Battle of Manassas, 2nd at Gettysburg. He was POW 7/15/1863 Johnson's Island, oath of allegiance 6/13/1865. Dateline Camp Bartow, March 26, 1862, to Dr. James Philips, 8pp., neat and dark. In small part, “... Gloomy accounts have been circulated .. regarding drunkeness, demoralization and disorganization of the Army ... yet I am bound to say it is wrong to lay the the blame of our disaster to it’s use...” White puts some of the blame on not including the Whig party in the government, “It would have been wise for the Democratic party in whose hands were the reins of government to have ignoreed past differences, animosities, and to have made judicious appointments regardless of party feelings, but it has not been done. ... The President still has a partiality for his old party friends. A great number of politicians have been sent into the field. They have usually played the demagogue ....” He continues, “At the battle of Manassas we were victorious, so were we at Leesburg. From that time we began to under rate the power of the Yankees. Our papers daily predict a speedy bankrupcy of the Northern government and that they will not wage war only for a few months ... thatn thenumber of troops desired by the North could not be raised ... that the foreign powers would intervene ... the receint reverses and snubbing foreogn powers have given us, has awaken us to our true sense of our condition. ... The people of Europe do not care for us or our institutions. The wiser of them wish us weakened.” Then back to the military, “What the Yankees lack in courage, they aim to make up in numbers. Drill, arms. ... We must comquor or lose all. I can not believe that we can be conquored u7nless God forsakes us. ... The defeatat New Berne is no more than I expected. Had Gen. Hill been there, it would have terminated differently. ... Politicians make poor officers. Wise has failed. Floyd has done a little better. We must have men of the times. ... Pender is a very good officer and is deservedly popular. If he has days to live, he will ‘Make his Mark’”.
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