2021-10 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021
Union soldier's letter, 7pp. 8vo., written by Sergeant Charles J. Baxter, Co. F, 27th New Jersey Vols., "On the way, 4 o'clock Friday afternoon, Oct. 10, 1862," to his family, reading, in part: "seated in a railroad car in the midst of a set of drunken soldiers - we left Newark at 3 o'clock passed through Elizabeth City at 3 1/2 - nothing is certain to the soldier. He knows not one hour where he will be next - we receive many manifestations of good well as we pass along. Ladies wave handkerchiefs & flags from the streets & windows of every place we pass through - [at] Philadelphia we were welcomed - in a manner I did not expect. A splendid supper waited us at the Soldier's Relief Saloon - one man gave out entirely. We took his gun & left him to sleep for himself - there is loyalty in Delaware. The true flag is waved from many a window as we pass along - have a splendid view of the Chesapeake Bay. The ferry is just across the mouth of the Susquehanna. The cars run upon the boat & [are] taken across the river. There are a number of guards stationed here to prevent Secesh sympathizers from burning the ferry boat. in fact they are stationed from Wilmington to the seat of war - Jno. Martin & myself - went to a field of cattle which we took to be cows to fill our canteens with milk. Said cows proved to be steers & our getting milk was quite a joke at our expense - [Capitol Hill, Monday afternoon, Oct. 13, D. C.] - marched two miles through the city to the Baltimore Relief Saloon. These relief saloons are not kept up by the U. S. Government but are evidences of the patriotism & liberality of the people where they are found. A relief saloon in Baltimore was something I was surprised to find - the best of them [citizens of Baltimore] have a very slovenly appearance. They seem to be very much mixed with the race of people whom they delight to persecute - I have heard a great deal of the Capitol of the U. S. - I was surprised to find it uncompleted - it will be probably be five or six years before the building & its surrounding are entirely finished. It is built of white marble & has several splendid images of distinguished persons (four or five times larger than natural size) placed in conspicuous places. From the steps of the Capitol I could see far across the illustrious Potomac - there are several rebel prisoners here in W. which have the appearance of being tolerably intelligent fellows. We marched out out of W. Sunday morning - ten miles. The twenty fifth N. J. V. came on the hill about an hour before we did - [to Kate] - there is a great deal to be seen in & about W. - Chas. J. Baxter." Negligible soiling, else VG.
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