2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
War-date Union officer's letter, 3pp. 8vo., written by 1st Lt. Benjamin C. Pennell, Co. B, 17th Maine Vols. [KIA Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864], "Camp 17th Maine near Warrington, Va. July 27, 1863," in part: "…I suppose you have heard about our being on the move. We have been on the march 47 days. We have marched about 400 miles and have fought the greatest fight of the war…in all these 47 days we have stayed two nights in a place but…3 times. This is what we call right smart work…of the Battle of Gettysburg…it was an awful slaughter. I took into that Battle 43 good hearty men and had 5 of them killed and 15 wounded and 'I' did not get a scratch. We had another small fight last Thursday up to Manassas Gap where we whipped the Rebels as before. All the loss [of] our Regt. had was the Sergt. Majer-mortally wounded. This makes five engagements that I have been in. Here is a list, 'Fredericksburg, the Cedars, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Manassas Gap' quite a list. You wrote me about coming down East too spend the fourth of July. I will tell you where I spent my 4th. We was laying in the front line of Battle at Gettysburg, all day expecting an attack…most of the fighting was done on the 2nd & 3rd. We were engaged then…I am in command of two companies now. Co. H was turned over to me after the fight as their officers were killed…please excuse this uninteresting letter…as it was written on the ground by candle light…your cousin, Benjamin…". Overall VG.
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