2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
Two Union soldier letter written by William B. Glass who mustered into "F" Co. PA 155th Infantry and was discharged on 6/1/1865. The first 2-1/2pp. letter is datelined Saturday, Dec. 13th, 1862 1/2 Mile from Fredericksburg, Va., to his aunts. In part, "OUR BOYS HAVE GONE OVER AND THE "REBS" ARE PLAYING ON THEM AS THEY CROSS THE PONTOON BRIDGE WITH SHELL & CANISTER. ...FROM THE HILL I AM ON, I CAN SEE THE SHELLS BURSTING OVER & AROUND THEM & THEY KEEP UP A CONTINUAL RATTLE OF MUSKETRY FROM THEIR RIFLE PITS & FROM THE WINDOWS & CELLARS OF THE HOUSES. ...THE REBEL SHARP SHOOTERS ARE PICKING OFF OUR BRAVE BOYS. BUT WAIT UNTIL OUR BOYS GET OVER. THEY ARE OVER AND HARD AT IT, AMID THE SHELLS & BALLS, THEY CHARGE & FIRE & DRIVE THEM FROM THE HOUSES. BULLY FOR THEM! ...IT IS GETTING DARK AND ALL IS ENVELOPED IN SMOKE, AND AS WE ARE A GOOD PIECE FROM THEM, ALL IS SHUT OUT FROM OUR SIGHT. ..AS FOR THE SIGHTS I HAVE SAW TODAY, I PRAY I MAY NEVER SEE SUCH AGAIN. IT WAS AWFULLY GRAND. I CAN GIVE YOU NO IDEA AT ALL OF IT. THE CONFUSION, THE CLATTER, THE CANNONS ROARING, THE MUSKET RATTLING, OUR BALLOON OVER OUR HEADS. WOUNDED MEN PASSING US. THE SIGNAL CORPS GIVING SIGNALS AND EVERYTHING TO MAKE ONE THINK HE IS DREAMING OF SOMETHING TOO HORRIBLE TO BE REAL. ... IT IS SAID THAT TONIGHT WE HAVE ONE HALF OF THE TOWN & THE SECESH THE OTHER, AND WE ONLY WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO HAVE THE BALL COMMENCED AGAIN".. It continues, Sunday 14th, "At day light this morning, the Rebs opened on them and they fell back under cover of the rifle pits and ON THEIR FACES THEY LAY ALL DAY, THE REB SHARP SHOOTERS PICKING THEM OFF ONE BY ONE. ... For some reason they don't fight any today and after the racket, you think the quiet is strange and all are uneasy about it. I don't know what it indicates but BURNSIDES & HIS OFFICERS ARE HOLDING A COUNCIL OF WAR & THIS IS THOUGHT TO BE THE CAUSE...." It continues, Monday the 15th, "I WRITE YOU TROUBLED & FEELING SAD AND SORRY AS I FOUND OUR LITTLE CIRCLE HAS NOT ESCAPED. SOME OF THE BOYS CARRY HORRIBLE WOUNDS FOR GALLANT DEEDS DONE BY THEM, AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY NOT ONE OF THEM FLINCHED OR TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THE ENEMY ... Will J. Dickson is wounded inwardly BY A HORSE FALLING ON HIM ON THE BATTLE FIELD. He is seriously hurt ...GEO. MCCLELLAND HAD HIS GUN SHATTERED IN PIECES IN HIS HANDS ... DOCTOR BARDEEN (ONE OF OUR BOYS) IS MORTALLY WOUNDED. POOR FELLOW. WE ALL THOUGHT SO MUCH OF HIM. "
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