Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
War-date Union soldier's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Mathew Halpin, [POW Second Bull Run, Va., 8/29/62], Co. K, 22nd New York Vols., Camp Keyes, Upton's Hill, [Va.], Oct. 11, 1861, to his friend Albert A. Fletcher, reading, in part: "…I thought a good deal about Bridgport [Vermont]last night as I walked my beat between the hours of 11 & 12…I was over to the Vermont Regts. a few days ago. Dan Mills [4th Vermont. Later WIA Cedar Creek, Va. 10/19/64 while in the 8th Vermont.] was sick. All the rest were pretty well. I don't know how the boys like soldiering. They have a harder time of it than we…Gen [Erasmus D.] Keyes has been promoted to Major Genl. He takes McClellan's place. He left here yesterday. The brigade was formed and he rode along the lines of each Regt & afterwards made a speech stating that he was going to leave us, that he did not know where he was going, but thought to Missouri. [Said] he should try and have this brigade in his division, expected to have a battle pretty soon, hoped that if he did not come off victorious he should be found amongst the slain. Col. [Timothy] Sullivan of the 24 N. Y…takes Keyes place. We have had a grand review on saturday last. Our whole division contains 5 brigades of infantry, 1 battery of artillery, 2 Regt. of cavalry. It was a splendid sight and looked the more beautiful as all the troops were well drilled. I was out on picket duty last week. We have to stay out 2 or 3 days…we got short of provisions on the afternoon of the 2nd day…I and another started off for potatoes. We went about 3 miles and while crossing the creek…upon a plank bridge both fell into the stream. It was lucky I learned to swim last summer or I should have been drowned. When I got on the other side I started, as I thought, in the direction of our camp. After about 2 hours walk through the woods I found myself at Fairfax 3 miles beyond our picket. It rained hard all night and I should probably be taken prisoner by our picket-only I had the countersign. It was no fun to walk 12 miles and get halted every 5 rods by a man concealed in underbrush. I expected some of them would fire and I felt glad next morning when I got on my post without having been missed or reported. The countersign was Varby…we got a new uniform of dark blue, stove pipe hats well ornamented with brass…Mathew…". Also included is the original transmittal cover. Overall VG. 200-300
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