2023-08 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/26/2023
Union soldier letter written by William Townsend who, on 6/14/1861 mustered into "E" Co. NY 40th Infantry and was Mustered Out on 6/13/1864 at New York, NY. Townsend was wounded 6/1/1862 Fair Oaks, Va.The 4pp. letter written on patriotic letterhead, to his cousin is datelined Alexandria City, September 22, 1861. In part, "... we have had several fights and haven't lost one ... we seen the fight to the Chain Bridge and we seen the fight this side and the trees is burning the Woods all down, we can see the smoke rise like a cloud and when they shoot from their forts we can see the smoke and smell the powder. ... There were two men shot last week ... for being drunk and when the guard told them to if they run he would shoot them ... they run and he opened on them three times and they did not stop so he shot and killed one and wounded the other. ... I will try and get a piece of the stairs that Col. Ellsworth was shot on if I can ..." Enclosed with the letter is a 3" splinter of wood from the Marshall House. New York 40th Infantry, on July 4 left the state for Washington, numbering 1,000 members and after a short encampment at Washington, was ordered to Alexandria, where during the summer it was engaged in the construction of Fort Ward and in guard duty along the Orange & Alexandria railroad.
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