2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Solomon W. Perkins, Co. C, 7th Massachusetts Vols., "Camp near the evening, Entrenchments near Yorktown, Va., April the 18th, 1862, reading, in part: "- we were at Warwick Court House - we advanced about 4 miles up towards Yorktown. The Rebels are all prepared for us - we expect a warm reception - last night, Ellen we were up and on our pieces. We are all formed in line of Battle - last night our Regt. moved up in the woods for fear that the Rebels might thrown shells into our camp - about 12 o'clock in the night we were aroused by the cracking of the muskets and they were pretty close to us. We laid low behind the fences but they did not come up - about 2 o'clock they again fired, but we did not - in the morning we found out the Rebels have got a Dam Built up above a small creek and they intend when we attempt to cross below the Dam they will flow us and drowned us - but we are wide awake enough for them - there was about 800 Rebels men coming across the dam to steal 3 pieces of cannons that were planted on a hill in sight of them - when they were crossing the Vermont Boys were already behind a fence and racked them so that they were compelled to go back with a heavy loss - Goff - is in a good place at Hilton Head. He has had no fighting to do yet - we slept on our arms when we were in Stanton camp and now we are seeing soldiering in good earnest - from your school mate, Sol. W. Perkins." The original transmittal cover is included. Minor spotting, else VG.
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