February 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, February 23rd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Lot of 23 letters by George W. Fernald of the 82nd New York Infantry, Co. C. Fernald was notably WIA at Gettysburg, where he received a bullet to his chest and where the 82nd lost nearly 100 in killed and wounded. Fernald also writes about the Battles of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Ball's Bluff, as well as skirmishes, draft riots and thoughts on colored regiments and military leadership.
In two letters discussing Chancellorsville, dated 9 and 27 May 1863, Fernald writes, ''...I have escaped through the battle unhurt & am well...it was a bloody one & the loss on both sides was heavy, but that of the enemy's greater than ours by three to one...'' He continues, ''...I came out of the battle again all safe, which I suppose you received in due time. It was a hard & bloody battle & nothing gained by it, although Joe Hooker says he gained his object, but I don't see what that object was, only to sacrifice 15 thousand lives without gaining any thing to settle the war, but it is nothing more than I expected for I don't think Hooker is capable of handling this army. He dose well enough have charge of a corps, but nothing more...Our Division was not on the right with Hooker, wee wer stationed along the Rappahannock River to keep communication open with Sedgwick & Hooker untill Sedgwick got up to Fredericksburgh then wee crossed the river & helped Sedgwick to carry the Heights which was hot worke, but wee carried the Heights & captured several peices of artillery & quite a number of prisoners but after wee had taken the Heights & got Sedgwick through to join Hooker, wee had orders to give up the Heights & City & recross the river, which wee did not like very well, but wee had to obey orders if wee broke orders wee could have held the Heights against any force Lee could have brought against us, but I don't think Hooker knowed what he was about after he crossed the river for he might have crushed the Rebel army as it was if he had of had his wits about him, but I will say nothing more about the late disaster...Gen'l Stonewall Jackson was killed in the late fight across the river which makes the Rebels feel verry bad...''
Fernald updates his cousin on his wounds at Gettysburg in this letter dated 13 July 1863, ''...I was not killed in the last battle, but was wounded. I was shot in the right breast & the ball came out of my back, but the doctor says with careful nursing I will come out all right again...You must excuse me for writing to you befor for I have not been able & it is verry painful for me to write but feared if I delayed longer you would think I was killed but I am not...''
On 26 October 1861, Fernald writes about the Battle of Ball's Bluff, ''...wee escaped prety luckey in not getting killed or taken for wee had only about 8 thousand men there & the wind blowed so that wee could not get any more men across the river & the enemy had about 80 thousand men at Leesburgh but wee retreated in good order on Thursday night so they did not find it out untill wee had all got over on the Maryland shore. On Tuesday our Co & one of the Minasota Co wer on picket & the enemys infantry made a charge on us but our batterys opend on them wich thined there ranks for them. Our loss in the Minasota was one killed & five wounded, but last Monday there was tow or three regments cut up at Conrad's Ferry wher Col. Baker was killed...'' He continues in a letter dated 5 November 1861, ''...It was a great blunder in some one of our G'nls in crossing the river on the 21st of last month & if they make many more of them they wont have many men to follow them for they begin to think there is foul play...'' On Christmas Eve 1861 he writes, ''...Wee were sheling the rebels across the river last week but they won't return the fire. Wee can't draw them out to have a fair fight in the woods or behind there enchrenments but I think wee will make a move on them be for long...''
On 19 June 1862 from Fair Oaks, Virginia, just after the Battle there, he writes, ''...Wee are encamped in a peice of woods just off the late battle grounds & are doing verry heavy pickett duty. The enemy shells our camp every once in a while, but they don't do much damage. They killed one man & wounded three in the Minnasota Regt & last night they came out on our picketts but they went back again with a flee in there ears...''
On 4 January 1863, Fernald reflects on Fredericksburg, where several of the 82nd were killed: ''...on New Year's night wee wer under arms all night & had our pickets doubled on account of the Rebel cavalry moving around us & wee thought they wer going to make a dash on us...You say that Fredericksburgh Battle is the bloodiest battle that has been fought in some time, but it is not half as bloody as it might have been if it had not of been that God & providence was on our side for the Rebels could have slaughtered every one of us after wee once got across the river for they had an enfilading fire on the whole city. A child six years old could have done better than Blockhead Burnside done...''
Later in the summer, Fernald reacts to the New York draft riots as well as the wounded from Gettysburg, ''...am sorry to hear of such a riot & disturbance in the City of New York for she should be the last city to have anything of that kind occur in it for New York is a pattern for all other citys to go by, but I hope they won't take pattern by her in the late riots & I hope the authoritys of the city will spar no pains in bringing the ring leaders to justice...the hospital in the city are full of wounded of both armys. The people of Baltimore are doing a great deal for the wounded both hear & at Gettysburgh, PA. There are wounded arriving hear all the time & the ladies of Baltimore do everything they can for them...'' Later in the fall of 1863, Fernald discusses joining a colored regiment as an officer, but decides against it. He asks his cousin on 2 October, ''...Are you raising any Negro regiments in the city? There was a regt went from hear the fore part of this week. It was 1200 strong. They are raising another one hear now and my Uncle George wants me to except a Majorship in it as he can get it for me, but I would rather remain where I am for I think it is much more honorable to be a private in a White regt than an officer in a Black one...'' Letters are in very good, legible condition, most with original covers. Also with near complete transcriptions.
Letter Lot by 82nd New York Infantryman WIA at Gettysburg: ''...I was not killed in the last battle, but was wounded. I was shot in the right breast & the ball came out of my back...''
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