2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
A confederate 2 page legal size letter written by William Thomas Marsh who was commissioned into "I" Co. NC 4th Infantry 5/16/1861 as Captain. March He died of wounds on 9/24/1862 at Sharpsburg, MD. Capt. Edward Stanley Marsh of Co. I, 4th North Carolina Infantry, who took over as captain after the death of his older brother William. Capt. W. T. Marsh's body was found buried alongside those of others from the 4th and 14th NC near an apple tree in Ben Graves' garden on the north side of the Shepherdstown Road. Dateline Camp near Rapidan River Va., March 30, 1862. In part, "You must pardon me for not answering ... more promptly. ... Early February I was detailed to work on the Batteries, or I should more properly say, take command of the fatigue parties detailed for that purpose. ... This continued up to the time when it was determined that I should evacuate the place. I was then placed in charge ... the removal of the stores which had collected vast quantities in various ... commissary department. All the engines and cars ... were in requisition... I would send off eight or ten trains in the course of a night. ... I do not exaggerate when I say that for a half mile on each side of the track there were piles of trunks.... when it was determined that nothing more was to be sent away and that there were piles of valuable baggage to be burned, the guards were removed and the men allowed to break open the trunks take whatever might meet their fancy. I never saw such a scene ... daguerreotypes, keepsakes, pistols ... The next morning they were committed to flames. ... In our evacuation from Manassas we lost more than we gained in the great battle of the 21st of July. Million of dollars worth of Government and private property destroyed. We left about sunset, marched till 2 o'clock that night. ... General Johnson, fearing some of his movements might be exposed by letter writers, will not allow our letters to leave by mail ... We occasionally get newspapers. By them we learn of the battle of New Berrne... They have ravaged the western part of this state. ... I am very anxious to hear from Washington and indeed any part of eastern Carolina. ... Whether any great battle will be fought here or on this line is a matter of much speculation. The enemy may attempt to push a column through Richmond by this route ... Virginia has four times the officers in the CSA Army as any other Southern state. His press claims all the credit for Virginians in every engagement .... North Carolina, though has furnished the best troops in the army ... has got no credit for it .."
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