July 2016 Auction Ends Thursday, July 21st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/21/2016
3rd New Hampshire Infantry Sgt. Major Marquis L. Holt Civil War letter, full of battle content on the Battle of Darbytown Road, part of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Dated 14 October 1864 just a day after the battle, Holt writes from ''Camp 3rd N.H. Vols Near Laurel Hill Va'', in part: ''Dear Brother & Friends / I received in due season your last letter and will now try and answer it though I don't feel much like writing. The last that I wrote to the folks at the farm was last Saturday the 8th the day after the rebs assalt on our lines [Battle at Laurel Hill]. Ere this you have received that letter if nothing has happend to it, and in it you will find a prety full account of that engagement. Since that time we have laid still in the same position establishing a camp and building a line of work until yesterday morning when we marched out and felt of the enemy a little. At 4 1/2 yesterday morning we fell in and moved out to the advanced cavalry line and formed a line and commensed an advance onto the enemy we had not gone a great ways when our skermishers commensed firing and soon a part of the line was engaged we drove the enemy into the works and our skirmishers advanced to within about 50 yards of the works and held their position most all day. We were in reserve though under a prety sharp fire most all day. About 2 1/2 in the afternoon it was decided to charge the works though most of the officers that had been to the front all day thought that we had not force enough to carry them. The 1st Brigade was chosen to make the assalt and a part of the 3rd Brigade also and our regt was to support them. We advanced to within a short distance of their works in the woods but before the assaulting colum got within sight of the rebs they set up a awful yell and the rebs opened a murderous fire before which the colum broke and their retreat they ran through our regt and our boys started to retreat with them but thanks to our brave Major and officers they were soon brought to their places and we stood our ground untill the 1st Brigade was formed and then we all fell back together. Nobly did the 3rd do their duty and obey every order to the letter of the word this unsuccesfull assalt ended the days work and we returned to camp. Strange to say after being under all this fire we had but one man killed and one wounded in the regt and these were hit while laying in reserve when we first advanced in the morning. The man that was killed belonged to Co A and the one that was wounded to Co. I both of them were Corps Company 'E' went into the fight with 6 Privates and 3 Corps which is rather small number considering that we went into the fight...We can fight a regt now of about 125 men when they are all together, but remember there are fighting men every one of which you can rely upon. The object of the movement yesterday I don't know but the general opinion is that it was only to feel the enemy and find where they were. The position that we found them in yesterday was a new one that they had taken up since their assault on our lines last Friday...we went round so near Richmond we passed over the same ground and found no one...Our company has not had a man injured since we left Petersburg...'' Signed, ''Your affectionate brother / M.L. Holt'' to top margin of page 1 where he concludes his letter. 4pp. letter on a single card-style sheet measures 7.75'' x 9.75'' with bisecting folds throughout, and some light toning. Very good.
Civil War Letter at Battle of Darbytown Road -- ''...before the assaulting colum got within sight of the rebs they set up a awful yell and the rebs opened a murderous fire...''
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