Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A good war-date Union surgeon's letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Asst. Surgeon William C. Towle 12th Maine Vols., Camp Parapet, [Carrolton, La.], Dec. 1, 1863, to his wife, in part: "I arrived in N. Orleans Saturday…the cars run every day. I took breakfast at the St. Charles. It only cost 75cts…the whereabouts of the Regt. The steam cars run from the city to Carrolton. It is two miles from there to camp P…I found the Col. [William Kimball future brevet brigadier general] very nicely located in what was once a magnificent mansion but is now somewhat the worse for wear. He is a fine looking man, courteous & polite…the acting Surg. Dr. [Eldridge A.] Thompson is about my age, very agreeable, intelligent & knows his business…the hospital is in a large building near to the Cols. & somewhat similar. It is all the property of rebs who left every thing behind them & followed the rebel army after our forces had occupied the city. Our camp is on the river above the city…it was here that the rebs expected that the attack would be made for they never supposed the gunboats could pass the frost below, Jackson & [St.] Phillips. The fortifications here are extensive & well planned. The large ditch on the outside of the works being so arranged as that in a very short time it could be filled with water from the river. The rear of the city was then well defended and could have been held against a greatly superior force…I inquired for Mary Shepley's husband and he informed me that he had gone up river into Gen. Grant's department [and] that he was tying to get a plantation from the Govt. [so] that he might move his family out…the negroes carried off and destroyed all of the furniture as soon as their masters left. As we came up the river we could see thousands upon thousands of acres of sugar cane which cannot be gathered on account of scarcity of help. The negroes are in the army [that is] most of the able bodies ones and the plantations are nearly…deserted. If the cane is not cut before the frost…it is nearly worthless…W. C. Towle." The original transmittal cover is included. VG
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