Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A good war-date Union surgeon's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Asst. Surgeon William C. Towle 23rd Maine Vols., Alexandria, Va., June 10, 1863, to his wife, in part: "I should have written…but for the sad incident which happened in one of our forts near here. About 2 o'clock the magazine in Fort Lyons exploded…killing twenty men & wounding fourteen more. It was a horrible sight heads, bodies, arms & legs all scattered in all directions…the poor fellows who survived were so burned and mutilated that many of them must die. They were taken to the hospitals in the city and all is being done for them…they belonged to the 3rd N. York. We were also called last eve to see a soldier who had accidentally shot himself while taking a gun from a wagon. The whole charge of the gun went through his left lung & he lived but a few minutes…fighting is going on down at Warrenton…we are having a good many cases of diarrhea & dysentery owing…to the bad water & foul stench which greets one's olfactory at every turn…there are more than 1000 carrion about here within a mile. Instead of burning a carcass as civilized people would do they merely lay them on top of the ground & throw a little dirt over them. This is blown off and no other attempt is made…to cover them . We have covered up a good many in the immediate vicinity of our camp and have strewn lime around. I am glad that we are not to remain long…W. C. Towle." The original transmittal cover is included. VG
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