2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
The following 4 letters were written by Union soldier John Simpson Crocker enlisted on 10/16/1861 at Albany, NY as a Colonel. He was commissioned into Field & Staff New York 93rd Infantry. In the Peninsula Campaign, Crocker was taken prisoner before Yorktown on 23 April 1862 and confined at Libby Prison for a time but was finally exchanged for Colonel Lorman Chancellor, 132nd Virginia Militia, in the late summer of 1862 in time to rejoin his regiment for the Battle of Antietam. At war’s end, Crocker was breveted a Brigadier General. There are four letters in this collection; the first written in February 1862 from Riker’s Island in NYC where the regiment was being drilled and prepared to be sent to the battle front in Virginia. The second letter was written in late August 1862 after Crocker was exchanged as a POW but before he had rejoined his regiment. Letter three was written on the march to Fredericksburg in November 1862 and letter four was written less than two weeks before the Battle of Fredericksburg as the AOP prepared to lay down pontoon bridges. The first, datelined: 93rd Regiment NYSV “Morgan Rifles” Camp Bliss, Riker’s Island, February 23rd 1862 to Hattie. In part, “Seldom separated & never for a long season which makes the sting of our present separation more keenly felt. ... You ask whether I rode or walked in New York on my arrival. I walked at the head of my regiment, four miles through the city and did not receive any injury from it. ... I was instrumental of saving the life of one at least of my men who but for me would have been crushed beneath the cars. The cars, after having stopped a few minutes, commenced moving. One of our men tried to get on board when the cars were in motion. I was outside & immediately ordered the brakes to be applied which my men readily obeyed. In the meantime the man trying to get on board got hold of the iron railing, lost his balance and was dragging just before one of the wheels. Capt. [William] Randles & myself rescued him from his perilous position. The brakes having been applied slackened this speed and enabled us to save him. ... ust as we were about to start, two span of horses took fright and ran away, passing between the train and some buildings where was a a sweet little boy about the size of Irving. He was right in front of the teams. I saw his dilemma & sprang in & snatched the boy in my arms & threw him onto the platform of the cars just in time to save him. ... . Friday morning we had a man [George Austin] from Salem die of congestion of the lungs. Poor fellow. ... His funeral took place here on the morning of the 22nd. As we had no chaplain present ...” ... plus, Datelined; Washington D. C., August 31, 1862 to Harriet, in part, “... finished my business satisfactorily & left for New York on the 4 p.m. train. I arrived at New York at 9 p.m. so weary that I concluded to go to the Astor House where I staid overnight. ... Mr. Bramhall had me sit for photographs. He is to send you one & said he should send me a package of them also. ... There is hard fighting going on over at Bulls Run. The fight has been raging with varied success and reverses since Friday. An immense excitement prevails in this city. No authentic information can be obtained. I hope for good news. New recruits are pouring in here in large numbers. Several thousand have arrived today. ... plus, Datelined ; Headquarters 93rd Regiment NYSV “Morgan Rifles” Grand Army of the Potomac Camp near Weaverville, Va. November 16th, Sunday eve., 1862, to Hattie, in part, “This morning at 10:30 a.m., we broke camp at Warrenton & marched to this place, distance 12 miles. ... There was sharp fighting near our last camp yesterday afternoon. A lieut. of cavalry with whom I was acquainted was killed & many others. Our poor Union soldiers lay dead by the roadside as we came along. Our troops held the Rebels in check. ... We are to go on again in the morning. ...” ... plus, Datelined; Headquarers 93rd Regiment NYSV “Morgan Rifles”, Camp near Belle Plains, Va., December 1st 1862 to Hattie, in part “This is a glorious night. The moon as she dances along the sky smiles upon us like a blushing bride. You never witnessed a more beautiful evening ... The two armies that are encamped in full view of each other are as quiet as sleeping virgins—scarcely a sound breaks upon the air. ... We went down to the river opposite Fredericksburg. We could see the Rebels in great numbers on the banks opposite & the high ground beyond. The pickets do not fire at each other so it is safe to go there today but may not be tomorrow. ...
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