2023-08 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/26/2023
Union soldier's letter written by Henry Brinkerhoff who , on 5/21/1861 mustered into Company A, Pennsylvania 71st Infantry and was discharged for disability 10/10/1862. The 10pp. letter to his sister is datelined, Near the Late Battle Field, Near Richmond - June 7, 1862. In part, "My time is short now, for at any moment we may be called out to meet the enemy who is in force within a mile. ... About noon - last Saturday the 31st, we heard heavy & rapid firing out in the direction of the center near Rail Road. ... Very soon we were on the move, Sedgwick's Division in the lead & our Brigade being second ... There was much delay in getting the artillery through ... some dragged out of the mud by hand. ... Shortly we were met by two mule teams with Negro drivers, covered in mud & without wagons ... they left the wagons in the hands of the enemy. ... At length we arrived within 3/4 mile of Yorktown. Our camp ground was wet, fairly soaked .. buy out of the Rebel fortification, we got materials to sleep on. ... One man was killed in this camp by the explosion of a torpedo placed in the ground. ... This was the 5th day of the terrible battle of Williamsburg. ... As we were not needed at Williamsburg, we .. followed Franklin's Div. up the York river to West Point. The day previous to our arrival there, Franklin's med had a fight with the Rebels at that place. We had about 150 killed and wounded. ..."
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.