February 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, February 23rd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Lot of three letters by William L. Lowell of the 1st New York Dragoons, Co. F, who was WIA at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, General Sheridan's famous raid into Richmond to take out J.E.B. Stuart and disrupt Confederate supply lines. Lowell describes the fight here in his letter dated 17 May 1864: ''...my foot is very sore but is doing well...we crossed the river on Wednesday...Saturday was the roughest time that ever I went. Every where that night I lay in a yard with about three hundred killed and wounded, some with their legs and arms off...others still...that was the worse sight I have ever witnessed and I hope that I shall never see another like that. The last I heard from the regiment they had gone up the Peninsula to reinforce Butler...I shall be with them again as soon as possible for I do not fancy hospital life as much as some do that are here. There are hundreds of men here that have never seen the front nor a reb...I shall have to tell you what a nice time I had agiting here. One of Henry's tent mates is with me. The first night we slept in the woods. The next night in an old church and the next night we were taken to Fredericksburg in an old government wagon...went to Belle Plains and slept in the wagon...next day we took the boat and arrived at Washington...''
Lowell writes another interesting letter about fellow soldier Myron Tamer, whose throat was cut by the Rebels. Dated 18 March 1864, letter reads, ''...the regiment went out on a scout last Saturday night and did not get in until Tuesday night. They was several horses shot in our regiment but no men. One man from Co. E had his horse shot and he was left behind across the river...the next day he was found with his throat cut from ear to ear. The rebs found him and killed him. His name was Tamer...Colonel Thorp is out with some of our regiment on a scout now. He went out Wednesday night and has not got back yet. There was an order sent to camp...from General Pleasanton not to send out anymore new recruits on picket...'' In his third letter dated 28 February 1864, Lowell writes, ''...the regiment is all out on a three days scout...we shall advance and cross the river...George and William Kelly and many others started out on picket last night...with three days rations. I should of went with them but I had just got to camp...I had a good time on picket. I was without he reserve and we went over to a reb house and traded some coffee and salt for a canteen of milk...we will not have anymore picket duty to do right away by order of General Pleasanton for he says they cannot stand it until they are drilled...'' All letters are written to Lowell's brother. Very good condition with near complete transcriptions.
1st NY Dragoons Soldier Describes Battle of Yellow Tavern Where He Was WIA -- ''...that night I lay in a yard with about three hundred killed and wounded, some with their legs and arms off...''
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