2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
Union soldier's 4pp., letter on blue paper written by Peleg E. Peckham who mustered into "A" Co. RI 7th Infantry and was Killed on 4/2/1865 at Petersburg, VA. Dateline, On Board Steamer David Tatum, August 12, 1863, to "Dear Friend Dave." In large part, "From the time we started, we have had a very rough campaign in Miss. I TELL YOU & THE LOSS OF THE 9TH ARMY CORPS IN THE TWO MONTHS SERVICE UNDER GRANT WILL BE AT LEAST SIX PERCENT IN KILLED & THOSE THAT DIE FROM DISEASE. ... WE LEFT MILLDALE, MISS. AUG. 8TH & TODAY IS THE 12TH. FROM OF THAT, 18 HAVE DIED ON THE PASSAGE. ... Tom Ray Kenyon of Co. A died Aug. 9th of typhoid fever. WE BURIED HIM AT MIDNIGHT AT THE MOUTH OF THE YAZOO RIVER! Yesterday Wanton Austin Co. G, Wm. H. Spencer Co. B, & Benjamin Peckham of Company I died. WE BURIED THEM THIS MORNING AT 1 O'CLOCK AT THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER IN ARKANSAS SOIL. ... "CONTRABANDS," WELL, THERE ARE ABOUT 20 WITH US, GOING UP TO ISLAND (NO. 10) TO DIE. YOU MAY THINK I AM TELLING A LARGE STORY THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE PLANTATION NEGROES THAT GO IN TO THE CONTRABAND CORPS DIE OF DISEASE WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS, BUT IT IS SO & FROM THE BEST AUTHORITY I CAN GET, 1/2 OF THE OTHER 3RD WILL DIE WITHIN THE NEXT 7 MONTHS AFTER… and IT IS A SAFE CALCULATION TO MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT ONE HALF OF THE NEGROES WHO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE PRESIDENT'S EMANCIPATION LEAGUE WILL NOT LIVE SIX MONTHS. ... IT IS TRUE THE MOST OF THOSE WHO DIE ARE THE WOMEN & CHILDREN & I DO NOT FEEL IT IS ALL RIGHT & THE BEST THING COULD BE DONE WITH THEM FOR THEY WILL BE ANNIHILATED IN TWO GENERATIONS AND WILL BE NO LONGER HERE TO CURSE US WITH THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. ... THE PAPERS TELL YOU THAT THE NEGROES FOUGHT LIKE HELL AT HELENA, BUT IT IS NOT SO. THEY WERE PLACED IN A RIFLE PIT BY OUR TROOPS & TOLD TO REMAIN THERE & FIGHT. ...THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE MODE OR MANNER OF ATTACK, & THEIR OFFICERS LEFT THEM, TELLING THEM TO SHOOT EVERY REBEL THEY SAW UNTIL THEY GOT TO THE PIT & THEN RUN FOR THE SHORE. ...THE REBS CAME, THE NEGROES FIRED A FEW SHOTS WITHOUT EFFECT. THE REBS CHARGED TO THE BANK IN FRONT OF THE PIT & SHOT THE ACCURSED BLACK SONS OF HAM RIGHT DOWN THROUGH THE HEAD. WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON, OUR FORCES LAY UNDER COVER OF THE GUNBOATS. THE REBS SUPPOSING THEY HAD WON THE FIELD WHEN THEY HAD KILLED THE GREATER PART OF THE TWO NEGRO REGTS. WITHOUT WHITE OFFICERS ADVANCED TO A RIVER OR JUNGLE TO COME THROUGH & ADVANCE ON THE TOWN. ... Our forces made a flank movement at the same time, crossed the ravine near the river & came up in the enemy's rear. When the gunboats opened on them in front & they were badly cut up, but THE NEGROES DID NOT HELP DO IT FOR THEY WILL NOT FIGHT. THEY ARE LIKE THE DAMNED COWARDS AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED. NEGRO SOLDIERS, HA! THEY ARE NOT SOLDIERS. THEY ARE LIVING TOOLS THAT WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT THE LASH NOR FIGHT WHERE DEATH IS TO BE FACED. ...THE NEGROES SUPERIOR INTELLECT, HIS TALENT MAY BE HELD UP TO THE END OF TIME, BUT IT WILL NEVER MAKE HIM WHAT HE IS IN STATURE, A MAN!"
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