2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Autograph Letter Signed by Alexander Murdock, 2nd North Carolina State Troops, died of disease in July, 1864, 6p. folio, Camp 2nd Regt. No. Ca. Troops, March 30th, 1864, in part: “...The snow began to fall here about 12 oclock...and continued all day and night...About 10 oclcok in the morning we heard a bugle and soon recognized the call for skirmish. It was not long until the skirmish of Battles Alabama Brigade was seen emerging from the woods fell on teh 4th NC REgt and a short distance behind them we could see their line of battle. Col. Cox called me and told me to have the long roll beat and form the Regiment and reinforce the 4th. I soon had the men in line throw out sharpshooters and off we went. When Battles Brigade saw us coming they fell back and started for Daniels No. Ca. Brigade...so we went by the left flank and away we went at a double quick through the woods with the snow up to our knees. We got to Daniels for before Battle and soon we joined in battle. We drove tehm back to camp after capturing a number of prisoners and one stand of colors. We had just got back to camp when one of Gen. Doles Aids came to Col. Cox for assistance as Johnstons Division had attacked his Brigade and were forcing him slowly back....It was not long until we were all ready for battle, everything being conducted on regular Military principles. After a hard fight of some three hours duration night came on and an armistance was agreed on until next morning. We having in the meantime captured two stands of colors. The next morning thous we were all too tired to renew the conflict so we sent the colors back...Last saturday we were much pleased to see Governor Vance among us. He addressed us for the first time and on Monday we had a grand review of all the N.C. Troops in this Corps also with the first N.C. Cavalry. After the review was over Gov. Vance spoke for nearly three hours. He has been enthusiasticly recieved and has made the solddiers his firm friends so that if he is a candidate for reelection he will get an overwhelming vote in the army. There are a few men who still vote for Holden but they are very few and I think most of them will change their minds before the election comes off....I happened to be in Goldsboro when Lincoln first made a call for men and Governor Ellis ordered the Goldsboro Rifles down to Fort Macon. He was telegraphed back by some of the officers that they had not a man who knew anything about the management of Artillery but that I was in teh place and did know. He sent them backward to try and get me to go with them. I consented and was in teh Fort about three weeks. All the time I was there Col. Tew kept me busy getting no order waht guns we had mounted and in drilling the men and making bullets, filling shells &c. About the end of the third week I got a message from Capt. Washington that he wanted me to come up and drill his company...I accepted his proposition and wetn to Col. Tew for permission to leave the Fort. This he refused saying that he could not spare me then....” More about helping other artillery units after Tew allowed him to leave. Good.
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