Fighting 32nd Massachusetts Soldiers Collection

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

Union soldier's war-date archive of Pvt. Edward F. Whittemore, Co. H, 32nd Massachusetts Infantry consisting of four letters, written mostly in pencil, between August 1862 and June 1864, totaling ten pages, reading, in part: "...[Camp Parker, Aug. 10, 1862]…The Colonel [Francis Parker] told the Captain that we should start for the seat of war in a week or ten days. We have got our rifles & all of our Equipments...[Camp near Fredericksburg, Feb. 12, 1863]…The Division Doctor lost my papers so I think I shall not get my discharge...they have turned that doctor out and have got a new one now...I have not done any duty since the battle [of Fredericksburg]...[Camp at Liberty, Va., Feb. 22, 1864]…We arrived at Fall River about eight o'clock that night. We went aboard the boat at that place and stayed all night. It was so very rough...We stayed overnight in Alexandria at the soldier's rest...I arrived here safe and sound...[Mount Pleasant Hospital June 14, 1864 after his arm was amputated]…I am getting along pretty well....We have got a new Doctor in the ward. I think I am to come home but I do not know when the Doctor will let me come home. I walk around some, my arm pains me some yet…". The collection also includes two 12mo., partly-printed 1863 receipts for boxes shipped to Pvt. Whittemore (one by Adams Express); a 2pp. 4to., manuscript poem entitled, "Our Parting"; two home-front war-date letters, a 1875 letter from a member in the 120th NY Vols; two receipts for burial cost in 1862-1863 and finally a single Civil War era playing card believed to have been used by Whittemore during his service. As a twenty-year-old boot maker from Ashland, Massachusetts, Edward F. Whittemore enlisted on July 17, 1862 as a private in the 32nd Massachusetts Infantry. During the battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, the 32nd regiment was heavily engaged while supporting Sickle's Third Corps near the Wheat Field. The regiment took 227 men into action and sustained 81 casualties of whom 22 were killed or mortally wounded. On January 1, 1864, he re-enlisted and was severely wounded in the right arm at the battle Laurel Hill [Spotsylvania Court House] on May 12, 1864, had his arm amputated and was discharged for wounds on June 3, 1865. All overall very good.

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