Picket Shooting Is The Worst Kind Of Warfare

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020

Union soldier's letter 4-page ink, datelined In the field front of Petersburg, July 6, 1864, written by Samuel B. Pierce, Co. C 6th NYH Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Washington DC. Pierce enlisted 9/2/1862 and mustered out 6/28/1865. In part, "We are still in the same position we occupied ... in the center lines, facing Petersburg, .... What Gen. Grant on the right or the left of the line, I can not surmise but am under the impression that he is not idle, and will do something that will make the Johnnies open their eyes one of these fine mornings. ... yesterday Co C was out on picket or skirmish line about 50 yards from our line of breastworks. holes are dug in the ground every ten, fifteen or twenty feet apart, large enough for two three or five men. there we have stayed 24 hours, when we were relieved by some other company. ... picket shooting is the worst kind of warfare, but they are firing constantly night and day at each other, about a quarter mile to our right, although Rebel Pickets and ours are in plain sight all the time, at our part of the line we do not fire at each other. While were out yesterday, one Johnny stood up on their works and shook a paper at us and sung out to exchange. one of our boys advanced from the breastworks half way across the the field with a paper in his hand ... As Paul had a paper, he went half way across the field and exchanged with the Johnny. Paul sent the paper home the same day. Neither of them had their arms with them you must remember, and would not be allowed to talk with each other. .. I do not believe that the Army was ever supplied with food as well as they have been this summer. It requires a smart man to keep such an army as ours well supplied. ..."

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