March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Large lot of 51 Civil War letters, 15 written by soldiers, most of whom fought in the 57th Massachusetts Infantry, a Veteran regiment who distinguished itself at Widerness, Cold Harbor, Spotsylvania and Petersburg, losing scores of soldiers in the process. The majority of letters are written to Sergeant Silas Swift of the 57th, who, after becoming disabled in 1862, worked in army hospitals for the duration of the war. Letter by Otis B. Clark of the 10th & 37th Massachusetts Infantries, dated 24 August 1864, relates fighting at the Battle of Charlestown, West Virginia: ''...I found the regt. last Sunday'...I had not been with them more than half an hour before we were ordered upon the first line of battle, for the Rebels were close to us and part of the 37th regt. were sent out as skirmishers'...There was some fighting all day. The 37th regt. had two men killed and eighteen wounded. Our regt. one killed and one wounded'...'' Another letter by Wood, dated 9 January 1865, reads in part, ''...The Rebs have undertaken to surprise our pickett line twice with in the last two weeks and the first charged down the line, but they soon came to a halt the last time this morning, but before they got around, they were surprised themselves and went back poorer than they come'...'' Letter by Captain Edson Dresser of the 57th Massachusetts, dated 2 July 1864, reports on the massive killing of his comrades at Petersburg, less than one month before he himself would be killed at Petersburg: '''...Our Regt has been badly cut up. My Lt. Col. killed. The Maj. discharged. Capt Sanderson wounded. Capt of Co. B killed & in fact all the Capts are killed or wounded'...Capt. Prescott, who is in command. Capt Howe & myself who are detailed. Our Co is also quite small. Capt. Dewey in hospital. Lt Peacock is on the Ambulance Corps. Sergt May & Crosby killed. Sergt Gilmore wounded. Also Sergt Clark, Charles Williams & Donnelly'...Sweetser, Mullaney & Hank Williams we made Corporals. T. Williams wounded. Dougall & Thos. Curley were made Corporals for the Navy the 6th of May. Since Curley was killed & Dougall wounded. Corporals are all wounded, killed, or missing'...'' Letter from Delbert Dawley of the 57th Massachusetts reports on the fighting at Petersburg. Dated 25 August 1864, letter reads in part, '''...I arrived here the week of the charge of the 30th in which Capt. Dresser was killed & Brig. [General William] Bartlett was taken prisoner. We lay in front of Petersburg about ten days & then moved to the left & lay there & then moved still farthr to the left & had a quike fight in which eight or ten were killed & wounded. Charlie Bates had just got back & was hit through both [h]ands think he will loose one of them. I was not in it as I was excused by the Doc as I was unwell, but the day I got up it rained & they were fighting on the front & left & we were ordered to fire our guns in the ground & load again & it fooled the Rebs. Suppose they thought they had got us on the right flank & they made a charge'...& the way the solid shot & hell flew over here whire we lay with nothing to protect us only some earthworks that they had thrown up that morning but as soon as the artillery got so that they could [?] on them they silenced then we killed lots of them & took some presoners. There are only 50 in the Reg at present & Joe Gallipaux is in command'...'' Letter by Silas Swift to Delbert Dawley of the 57th, dated 31 August 1864, reads in part: '''...sorry to hear that poor Bates was wounded again, but hope he will not lose an arm. You spoke about Gallipaux being in charge. Where is Sergt Clark? I would like to know. I thought he was with the company. I wish I could see the boys. The fact is Dawley, I will try and borrow a dollar and sen you some'...I am hating here and what does it amount to? I know I am not able to do my duty at the front, but the question is will I ever be and sometimes I am completely discouraged. I do not crave the privilege of going to the front, but you know how'...slow time is passing away in such a place'...I heard from Otis B. Wood. He was in a fight less than half hour when he got to his Regt'...'' Remainder of letters are by Sergeant John B. Clark of the 57th Massachusetts, Charles Bates of the 57th, Sergeant James Sweetser of the 57th, a third letter from Otis Wood, and then letters by soldiers who had worked with Swift at the hospital: Lauriston Parsons of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Ephraim B. Wilcox of the U.S. Army General Service, Walter Lamb of the 25th Massachusetts Infantry, Johnson French of the 44th New York Infantry, Lysander Estie of the 10th Massachusetts, and one unidentified soldier. All letters are in very good condition and all but two have their original mailing envelopes. A very interesting set of letters with intimate details about the 57th's sacrifice at Petersburg and other battles during the summer of 1864.
Fantastic Lot of 15 Civil War Letters -- ''...We lay in front of Petersburg...we were ordered to fire our guns in the ground & load again & it fooled the Rebs...we killed lots of them & took some
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