2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
The following Union soldier’s 17 Letters Group are written by Edwin T. Scott who enlisted on 11/11/1862 at Cuba, NY as a Priv. and n 3/31/1863, he mustered into "E" Co. New York 12th Cavalry. He was Mustered Out on 7/19/1865 at Raleigh, NC. Promotions, Sergt 1/1/1864, Qtr Master Serg 6/1/1864. The letters are written tom his wife. Datelined: Camp Washington, Staten Island, New York, January 15th 1863, in part “Oh how I wish I could know this morning how you are and whether you arrived at Cuba all right. But I must wait till Saturday and perhaps longer, I hope not. Oh how I wish I could look the entire length of that long winding Erie Railway & see how you succeeded in the journey. I will not try to write much this time but all I can do is to wait and hope. ...” Datelined: Headquarters 12th N. Y. V. Cavalry, 2rd Ira Harris Guard, Camp Washington, Staten Island, May 24th 1863, in part, “He is well & the 85th is at Falmouth, North Carolina. I expect to see him if we go to Newbern. ... I had a letter from Stevens yesterday. He was at Washington. He has the appointment of Major in the Andrew Johnson Cavalry of Tennessee and expects to recruit a Battalion for the New York Regiment of that cavalry in western New York. ...” Datelined: Headquarters 12th New York Cavalry, Camp near Newbern, North Carolina, Monday eve, June 8th 1863, in part “We have just got settled in a new camp out about three miles from town in a large forsaken plantation. There is a well, a large apple and peach orchard, and that is all that remains. ... There is a great many soldiers here from different states. Some have lately come out and some are just ready to go home , 2 years men... We are taking lessons very fast now, learning the uses or arms and horses at the same time. We have fine horses and expect to make a good appearance by first of July. ... The darkies are very thick and the southern white folks are very scarce, being nearly all rebels and all left for the minions of Jeff Davis. ...” Datelined: Washington, North Carolina, Saturday, July 11th 1863 with the letterhead have a color illustration of a dog. In part, “I wish you could see my room. I am all alone in a room by myself at present; the room is about 10 by 14 feet, has two windows, and a glass panel door, open on the outside of the building, which is an old turpentine warehouse and has three steps down to the ground. I sleep on a cricket bedstead which stands in one corner. I have two blankets, a tick, and an old oil cloth blanket. The tick I use for a sheet this hot weather. I have a corn husk pillow; both of my windows have got course screens in made of slazy oat bags we get. The desk I write on is an old reb show case with wood cover and glass sides. It is about 6 feet long and two wide. On the nails by the door hangs first, cup and towel, then toothbrush, haversack, canteen, jacket, drawers, lariat rope, watering bit, great coat, shirt, cap, night shirt, extra jacket & pants, basket, sabre & pistol, little leather needle & thread concern, brush & comb, picture of two horses and four generals, broom, & that brings us around to the door again.....” Datelined: Camp Palmer near Newbern, North Carolina, October 15th 1863, in part “ his camp used to be an old reb planter’s door yard & contains about five acres. It is perfectly splendid. Long rows of cedar & cypress on the Newbern road which is nearby & is the front of our camp. The officers’ tents occupy nearly the whole of the yard, or park, as it might be called, as it is filled with large maple, gum & elm trees thirty or forty years old. It is nearly as level as a floor. The next thing back is the mens’ tents & horse stables in rows, enclosed. ... A good trooper wants nothing but his blanket & one suit of clothes & them he wants on his back. He has some thirty pounds in arms & ammunition to carry on his body besdies (carbine, pistol, sabre, belt, straps, & cartridges & box) These he has to carry whenever on duty, mounted or dismounted. ...” Datelined: Camp Hoffman, Bachelors Creek, North Carolina, November 23rd 1863, in part “I have no news to write of military affairs here except the change of Generals. We have now Ben Butler in the place of Foster, so you may look out for some news in a short time for he says we have got to fight. ... n the opposite side of this you will find a rough plan of a cavalry camp. * The Howitzer Company or Flying Artillery is formed by detached men belonging to the other companies. They have only two small pieces (brass 6 lbs. shot & shells). They go on the run & are intended to go along with cavalry. All the gunners are mounted so they can all keep up. The stables are made of pine poles covered with brush. The horses stand upon each side of the log mangers in each company. The tents of the men front the stables and are eight feet apart. The cook tents are on the back end of the row. The line officers’ tents all front their companies. The Field & Staff tents all front the same way—that is, in this camp south. (Sketch is included). Datelined: Bachelor’s Creek, North Carolina, January 31st 1864, in part “Yours of the 20th I have just received with the likeness all right. Oh how glad I am to once more see that face which to me is dearest of all and though far distant, in thought ever present. I think my dear, you looked a little tired; little Lucy’s likeness looks better than I expected it would. How fat she is! The change between the old likeness I have and the new one is very great. You have really got to be a woman! The little girl I carried around in my pocket & now a woman and a mother! ..” Datelined: Camp Palmer, North Carolina, March 28th 1864, in part “There is no excitement here at present though we expect to make a dash at the Rebels every day. I have my tent nicely built up four feet high with logs & the tent makes a nice roof for my little house. I shall think it a shame. If we have to move again very soon. ... I do not think you will have to chain me very close to keep me, my dear, if I live to get home safely and see you again. ...” Datelined: Camp Palmer, North Carolina, April 9, 1864, in part “As Mother will be alone most of the time during the coming summer, I hope you will at least make her a good long visit while Emma is at her school. I am willing if for your happiness and comfort to have you stay at Richburg, but I think you will enjoy making all our numerous relations in Cuba & vicinity a good visit and perhaps stay with Mother part of the season ... Always go guarded against those who are mean & avoid the society of those who have no self respect or neglect for others. I need not tell you, my dear, of the many vicious & evil persons in the army for you well know they are from all places & classes of civilization. And I only sustain myself against so many troubles, trials and temptations which are greater even than any physical exertions I have to encounter, by the continual hope that there will soon be an end to this, & relieve me from the unnatural surroundings. ...” Datelined: Camp Palmer, North Carolina, July 12th 1864, in part “... it still finds me anxiously expecting yours which I should have received last Saturday. But the steamers are very irregular between here & New York of late & that accounts for my letters being so long in reaching their destination. ... I received a letter from Hunt Morgan last Saturday. He says he is not partial to babies but out “wee darling” is the prettiest and beats them all. Of course you heard Alice was married & is house-keeping in Allegany. ...” Datelined: Camp Palmer, North Carolina, July 24th 1864, in part “My dear girl, while these few fleeting years are passing so swiftly by, what important and beautiful thoughts present themselves while viewing the wonderful creation with its perfection & harmony! But I do not intend to sermonize on this half sheet, but will proceed to items of current events. ... Fifteen months & a half more! & then I shall be at liberty if I am so fortunate as to live that time, and then I shall see you all & be at home. ...” Datelined: Camp Palmer, North Carolina, October 7, 1864, in part “There is much sickness about here & in New Bern as you have probably heard before this by the newspapers. ... I send you inclosed in this a small sum $5 which you may need. you have not ever informed me if you received the last I sent you. You must be more particular and let me know when you get anything from me & what you need. ...” Datelined: Camp Palmer, North Carolina, November 10th 1864, in part “Well, my dear, I am getting to be a very old man—over 25! Only think of that! I shall be so old you will hardly know me when I get home. ... The regiment has received over two hundred recruits this fall & we are now stronger in numbers than ever again. ... This is the last day of two years that I have served. One year more. ...” Datelined: Goldsboro, North Carolina, 31st March 1865. In part “Our company is still escort for Maj. General Cox, which is much better business than scouting around with the regiment in all directions. Our loss has been since we started three captured & two wounded—once since died. The loss of the regiment has been very heavy in captured—some 150 in all. ...” Datelined: Headquarters 23rd Army Corps, Raleigh, North Carolina, May 3rd 1865, in part “Do you ever think how the soldiers all look? with their dirty, ragged clothes & rough, sunburned faces & brown, ugly hands—living almost wholly in the open air—they did have stern, harsh features, but good news of peace makes even the ugliest smile, & now the best feelings prevail & joy & laughter is heard throughout the camps. ... A very large portion of the troops left here Saturday & Sunday for the North. But our Corps (the 23rd) and the 10th Corps, are to remain in this state until state laws are established and until order & quietness is restored. It may be several weeks, ...” Datelined: Headquarters 23rd Army Corps,Greensboro NC, May 12, 1865, in part “Our march from Raleigh was rather a pleasant trip than otherwise though we rode the whole distance of 80 miles in two days. This town is about fifty miles south of Danville, Va., & it is about as pretty a town as I have seen in the state. The country is more like home here than about New Berne & much heathier. The people did not own many niggers here but done most of their own work. Our regiment is now away down at Tarboro—not far from Little Washington, & I hope they will stay there. We have much easier times here than with the regiment. ..” Datelined: Raleigh, North Carolina, July 11th 1865. In part, “Our company left Greensboro night before last & is now at Raleigh awaiting the arrival of the regiment to be mustered out of service & sent to New York; so we are going home at last. ... This evening there is a big circus from New York here and I think after being so long a soldier I can afford to go & see the performance. It was almost unexpected to us to receive an order so soon for the regiment to go home but I have not heard of anyone being sorry yet. ...”
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