2024-07 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024
This group of ten Union soldier's letters are written by and to William H. Debell who on 8/12/1862 he mustered into "A" Co. NY 109th Infantry. He was Killed on 8/19/1864 at Weldon Railroad, VA. Included is a cabinet card photograph of Debell, seated, in uniform with pencil ID on the reverse, "Wm. DeBell, Killed in the Civil War." ... plus, Annapolis Junction, MD., September 6, 1862 to his "ma", 4-page. In part, "regiment is all broke up ... guarding a rail road in Washington ... we have caught several prisoner deserters mostly last night. We caught a rebel spy. We took him up to the guard house ... Old Jackson and forty thousand troops have crossed the Potomac ..." ...plus, July 3, 1863, pencil 4-pages to his "ma". DeBell has several dated texts, Friday 17, in part, "It will never be forgotten by the 3rd. We fought all day, charged the Rebs 4 times and lost nearly all the commands of the Regt. After the fight we had only thirty-seven men to stack arms....18th, in part, " Still fighting and gradually gaining ground although it costs heavy and blood and life. .. 19th, in part, "We have been lying in the woods facing the enemy" ... 20th, in part "Last night charged across the rail road and took the heights beyond ...." ... plus, May 17th, 1864, Spotsylvania Court House, 16-pages in pencil. This sheets appear to be to have been pulled from a note book. In part, "One of the men that is on first with me was shot ... poor fellow... we fired on them and we fought there all afternoon and only 3 got wounded out of our co, one killed. ...May 11th, in part, "The enemy commenced shelling us in our rifle pits ... sent out 100 men of our Regt. as skirmishers ... Shells are very disagreeable ... when they come so close that the wind of them will blow your hat off.... there is 280 killed , wounded, and missing in the Battle out of our company ... " He then lists 12 soldiers who were wounded and 6 killed. ... plus, June 20, 1864, Near Petersburg, 4-pages, pencil, in part "The Corps is fighting now very hard on our right. ... I don't like these charges. We are in sight of Petersburg ... Our batteries is now throwing shells into Petersburg. We have got the Rebs in such a position ..." ... plus, June 28, 1864, On Picket near Petersburg, 4-pages, pencil, in part, "I came on Picket night before last & have been on for nearly 48 hours ... I was on the advance line yesterday which is a stone's throw from the Rebs. ... one or more of our company was killed Saturday, Joshua Cortright ..." ..., plus, Undated , pencil, 3-pages, in part, "Just before the battle Mother ... On the field we're lying with the enemy before us. Fairwell mother, you may never press me to your heart again ..." ... plus, October 10th (63?), 4 tightly written pages. She brings William up to date on family, local, and friends matter. ..., plus, August 6, 1864, 7-pages to his sister. In part, "I suppose you have read in the papers before this time about the undermining of the Reb Fort. Well, our Regt was on picket at the time ... I knew the fort was all ready to blow up ... to our astonishment-we felt the ground rise up under our feet ... we looked over the works and ----oh---- the awfulest sight that ever man beheld was there to be seen, men's heads, legs, arms, hands and whole bodies .... about three hours the Rebs making several desperate charges to retake the line, then on came our colored troops with a rush and we thought sure we could walk right into Petersburg ... the black buggers stood up to their work but they was cowards and run and thus we lost our hold ... " ..plus, August 23, 1864, Headquarters 1st Brigade, 3rd Div. on the Weldon RR Near Petersburg, written to William's mother by William Hance. In part, "It is with a sad heart ... I have news to tell of a nature most melancholy. William is dead. He fell in the bloody charge by the Rebels on the 19th to recover the railroad which was taken from them the day before. At the time he was struck he was in advance of the company, supposing we had one line of battle between them and the Rebels. He soon discovered the mistake, taking off his hat and swinging it around his head, he cried out 'Come on Boys, they are Johnnys'. Those were the last words he uttered.. The cruel messenger of death struck him down, striking his right arm, passed through, glanced and entered his side, passing through his lung, killing him instantly. ... Having lost two brothers in the same manner, I can sympathize with you ...." ... plus, September 13, 1864, Headquarters 1st Brigade, Near Petersburg, tape repairs, light pencil written to William's sister by William Hance. In part, "All I could learn was that another regiment were detailed to bury the dead ... There are but few of our boys left and nearly all of my acquaintances are either dead or wounded .. I shall try to find out where his grave is. ... We are now about three miles from where he fell. ... You asked how battles Will was engaged in. There were eight pitched battles ... besides numerous skirmishes on the picket. After all he had passed through unharmed, it seems doubly hard to believe that he was shot down by the traitor's bullet .."
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