Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
A good early war-date Union minuteman's letter, 3pp. 4to. & 8vo., written by Sergeant James A. Bailey, Co. E, 5th Mass. (3 Months) Vols., Washington, May 22, [1861], to his family, in part: "…we were all out to attend divine worship…we all marched back & ordered to pack up & be ready to march…the fact of the case is this. Gen. Butler wants to have us join the 6 [Mass.] regt. as both belong to his brigade, but Old [Winfield] Scott wants to have us stay where we are. He says somebody must be here & as we are a very orderly set of men it would be cheaper to keep us here, but Old Butler wants to show us off. He would do most anything to gain a little reputation. Bad manners to him. Since we kicked up such a row about our provisions we have been served a great deal better…we are drilled every day by a West Point cadet & we have target practice now & then. Thus far our company has made the best shots in the regt…none of our company have got in the guard house which is more than any other company…they also take our men to guard the provisions in the cellar. A great deal of which has been stolen, such as cans of preserved meats…some of the companies…call us the "Colonel's pets"…[Dear Mother]…it looks as though I had blacked my mustache, but I did not. The picture had to be taken very dark in order to show the grey uniform. I will get one in our undress uniform…we do not wear our dress hats at all. They are so heavy they would kill a man to carry one round. Nor do we hardly ever wear our coats. We drill all together in blue shirts…[I] don't think I shall reenlist…I am going to try & go tot the President;s levee this afternoon…Jim…that stripe on the arm below the elbow is a 5 yrs service stripe. The others are sergeants stripes. J." Minor stains, else VG
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