Incredible Description of the Work of Berdan Sharp Shooter

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/26/2023

California Joe Union officer's 4 legal size page letter written and signed by "Captain Harry" (Harry C. Fry) who enlisted on 10/15/1861 at Potsdam, NY as a Captain at age 30 and on 12/16/1861 was commissioned into "H" Co. NY 92nd Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 1/7/1865 at Albany, NY. The letter is datelined Camp Dix, Yorktown, July 5, 1862, in part, "There is a deal of trouble on the old man's mind ... We were all prepared to leave this horrid place, when behold and order arrives; 'Garrison the fort, Hold Yorktown' and immediately all hands are at work. ... You are a curiosity hunter .. if I had any means of sending, could supply you with a quantity of relics ... There is monument where Cornwallis surrendered .. in another place two of Washington's staff are buried .. The old entrenchments thrown up by Washington can still be seen. ... There is a large tree ..13 to 14 feet at the base .. comfortably hold ten men inside. From this tree 'California Joe shot so many men - his modus operandi was to climb up inside, and having a fixed platform on which to stand, he could securely pick off the Rebels with ease. ... A negro thought to play the same game for the Rebels. A house a short distance from Yorktown had been burned down ... there was nothing standing but the chimney .. from this the black SOB suceeded in killing a number of our men, but his time was short. California Joe was sent for ... he took his posish in a pit dug for the purpose in the night. The next day at day break, the Black came toward the chimney. Joe waited until he started to crawl up, and then he let him have it. 'He never smiled again'. California Joe returned to his tree, and our men have been digging out the bullets which were fired at him. He is worth a whole regiment. ... The land is covered with shot and shell for miles, all kinds, solid shot as large as your head .. There is a large Rebel burying ground, also a Union site. When we first arrived here the poor fellows were bury six to ten a day. ... They have been saving their candles ... forming a procession with torches , made of candles stuck on their bayonets, marched to the Colonel's tent, gave him three cheers, then marched down the officers street and cheered them ..."

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