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.], May 5, 1864, to his wife, in part: "…affairs up the river are not very promising…the rebs a few days ago attacked our forces at Baton Rouge…Gen. [William B.] Franklin was brought down wounded and Col. Fessenden…has had his leg taken off below the knee. They were wounded at the Red river fight [battle of Mansfield, La., 4/08/64] while on the retreat to Alexandria…skirmishing is going on daily near Alexandria and it is believed that Banks will be able to hold he place though the gunboats are above and cannot get down to his assistance over the rapids on account of low water. The 14th Me. recd orders…to be in readiness…to go to Baton Rouge. The 14th is quite a small Regt, not over 250 for duty. We have nearly as many here in our detachment-241….I find that our men in comparison with some other Regts are very sober and orderly…we never had to have a guard around the hospital till the Nigger & 14th N. H. came here. Now we are obliged to guard everything, table, wood etc. I cant bear the sight of a negro soldier. I think Gen. [Horatio G.] Wright put them to some different use where they would be more profitable…at any rate real estate is for preferable these times to greenbacks…I am afraid they will not be worth so much in the fall as they are now, certainly not if things go on in Virginia as they are aging here. I had a nice little operation yesterday, took off a man's finger with about an inch of the metacarpal…took it off obligingly so that after it heals you could hardly tell that there was a finger there. John ought to have had his taken off in that way…a ball through his finger, wounded [at] Port Hudson and had a stiff finger…Wm. C. Towle…". VG
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