2021-10 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021
Union soldier's letter, 2pp. 8vo., written by Orderly Sergeant Charles J. Baxter, Co. F, 27th New Jersey Vols., "Camp at Turtle Creek, Pa., Saturday June 27, 1863," to his sister, reading, in part: "-at Uniontown I sent a communication home that I had volunteered to serve in Pennsylvania for ten days after the 19th - immediately after ascertaining how many would serve for that period - was but 150 of the whole Regt. The Colonel went to Pittsburg & represented in strong terms to Genl. Brooks the mutinous state of the most of his men& demanded immediate transportation for all excepting the new volunteers, whose services he offered for ten days. So small a body of men were of course not acceptable neither could a portion of the Regt. be returned home & mustered out while a part yet remained in the field - as it was daily expected that Harrisburg would be attacked by a large Rebel force, everything available was used as transportation - consequently the Col. could get satisfactory information as to the time he could get transportation for the Regt. He returned to the Regt. & told the men the state of affairs & that further delay was necessary. Instead of bearing cheerfully what was unavoidable they still persisted in being mutinous & insubordinate, accused the Col. of deceit & of misrepresenting the true state of affairs. Companies G. & F. stacked their arms & other things were done showing the absence of discipline. When the Col. passed through the camp expressions would be made that could not help but wound his feelings. Men were scattered all over the country, some helping the farmers mow & hoe corn. As it was not policy for the Regt. to remain long in such a state Col.. Mindil again returned to Pittsburg & took Lt. Col. Babcock with him to corroborate his statement. They returned to camp on Thursday afternoon with the intelligence that transportation would be furnished sometime during Friday. Thursday night Genl. Brooks sent a sufficient number of cars to transport the Regt., with the proposal that he would send us home immediately by the Central route & let us take the chance of danger & of being stopped or we could stay here (at Turtle Creek) for four days with the assurance of being sent home at the expiration of that time & by a safe route. It was voted on by the Regt. & the majority was in favor of a delay at T. C. - the object of our laying here is to defend Pittsburg from a cavalry raid - Chas. J. Baxter." Overall VG.
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