Battle of Camden

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005

THE 21ST MASS. AT THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN, NC A fascinating war-date 4pp. large folio, manuscript account of the battle of Camden, N. C. in April 1862, written by Capt. Ira Kelton, Co. D, 21st Mass. Vol., in part: " ... [April 15] ... Gen. Reno reviewed the 21st [Mass.] today. We have just received the sky blue pants and our regiment made a splendid appearance ... our camp ... [and its] streets are lined with evergreen Gen. Reno took dinner with Col. Clark ... we gave him three ... cheersthe Gen. made the following ... speech- 'If I ever get into a tight place. I shall expect the 21 st to get me out of it. .. and rode off ... [Apr.17] ... we received orders to be ready to march ... taking only the men who could ... march 20 miles .. .I could muster only 50 guns ... our regiment marched down to the railroad bridge ... [we] were soon aboard the Northern ... we were going up to the Great Dismal Swamp to make an armed reconnaissance in force towards Norfolk ... [Apr. 18] ... arrived opposite Roanoke ... anchored off the north end of the island ... and waited for the ... 9th and 89th N. Y. and 6th N. H. stationed on Roanoke ... the 51st Penn. came with us from New Bern ... we could see the regiments getting aboard the steamer ... the little fleet sailed together.. . when the Admiral got grounded ... the other transports and gunboats now left us ... we only arrived at Elizabeth City today ... [Apr. 19] ... the 21st landed in small boats ... and began our march in rear of the 51st Penn ... we came to the Camden Court House and jail. .. the inhabitants did not leave at our approach ... women and children ... were unmolested by our troops ... after marching some 9 miles. We saw away to our right. .. clouds of dust. .. soon we could see the head of a column of infantry coming towards us ... we ... stood to our arms. As they came nearer the Gen. rode down and discovered them to be the 9th N. York (Zouaves) who had landed several hours before ... they had lost their way ... we now pushed on again the Zouaves bringing up the rear ... we came in sight of numerous fires which were on the opposite side to us of a large field. The 21st were just entering ... the field ... and the 51st Penn. had passed half way across it when we were opened upon by artillery in front and which was concealed by those fires. The 51st immediately filed by the right and entered the woods. As soon as they were out of range. The rebels directed their fire on us with very great shell-severill cannon balls coming in among us, but hitting no one. Some of those balls we could see before they got to us. We soon filed to the right and entered the woods with the intentions of getting onto their left flank and rear, but our object was defeated by these cussed Zouaves ... after getting on

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