February 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, February 23rd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Three Civil War letters from George Townsend of the 29th Massachusetts Infantry, Co. F, who was WIA at Petersburg and writes of the Battle here. In Townsend's first letter to his father, he writes of the Battle at Bethesda Church. Datelined ''White House Landing, Va'' on 5 June 1864, ''...The regt has been into a fight and I have seen several of the wounded men Epreham and Abe Haskell are two of them there was several killed. How many I do not know. They are cut up very bad I am still with the brigadye but don't know how soon I shall go to the front. There cannot be over 75 men left in our regt now. Martin Jefferson of South Middleborough is killed. He belonged to my company who else I cannot tell...''
Shortly thereafter, on 17 August, Townsend writes from the hospital after Petersburg: ''...I am now in the hospital and gitting a long as well as can be expected my wound begins to heal up now pound flesh got into it and I had to have it burnt out three times it is clear from it now...I was shot through the back of the neck July 30th in the charge when we blowed up the rebel fort...I lost all of my clothes only what I had on. Send the five dollars as soon as you can. When you write let me know all of the news don't worry a bout me for I am better of then I was when I was at the front...only 50 men in this ward wounded I think there is a bout 15 hundred in this place. Petersburgh never will be taken nor Richmond...Drafted men next September I hope they will shove them right to the front...'' All three letters have covers, and are very legible. Accompanied by transcriptions for all letters.
29th Massachusetts Infantryman, WIA at Petersburg: ''...I was shot through the back of the neck July 30th in the charge when we blowed up the rebel fort...'' -- Also Battle of Bethesda Church
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