March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Lot of Civil War letters from Capt. Alfred N. Proctor of the 42nd Massachusetts Infantry, who enlisted in 1862, and was aboard the steamer Saxon when it was captured on New Year's Day 1863 in Galveston, Texas. Letters to his brothers (Charles and his twin, Albert) and father in Boston date from 17 April 1862 to 4 April 1864. Proctor's first letter from Fortress Monroe at the mouth of Virginia's Hampton Roads, dated 17 April 1862, was sent shortly after the Battle of Hampton Roads involving the Confederate ship Merrimac, ''...The harbor is now clear of vessels. Most of them at anchor outside for fear that the Merrimac will serve them as she did some others last week...most probably she only shows herself...to keep the gun boats here so that they will not go up to assist in the battle at Yorktown..." Letter dated 11 December 1862, on board the steamer Saxon, reads in part, '''...you can judge how astonished we were...to find when 24 hours out on opening our sealed orders that we were bound for Ship Island instead of Fortress Monroe...'' Letter dated 22 December 1862 on board the Saxon reads in part, '''...There was a grave yard next to our ship & I saw them bury some soldiers & the water comes so near to the graves that they have to hold the coffin down with sticks in the water till they could put on the dirt...We came up to New Orleans &...sailed up to Carrolton...There are lots of soldiers...going up the river to Baton Rouge to make an attack on Port Royal where there will be a big fight. We are going to Galveston...& we expect a fight...'' Letter dated 23 December 1862 from Galveston reads in part, ''...we had a narrow escape from getting on shore...getting blown out of the water by a gun boat in the night...taking us for a rebel craft...We are here at last at anchor in the harbor & it looks rather bad for us...There are some 3000 rebels here...'' Letter dated 6 October 1863 from Confederate POW Camp Croce reads in part, ''...I see no prospect of our release as yet. Now almost 10 months in confinement & what a glorious privilege is liberty when I get home...56 officers & 350 men here, have buried 8 in all...I hope to get exchanged for some of the Texas officers that our Government have...'' Letter dated 4 April 1864 reads in part, ''...Still we are here in confinement & I don't know how long we are to remain...tomorrow 20 officers & 370 men leave here exchanged by Genl Banks. It seems as if we were to be left here to die for all they care for us at home...'' Proctor was ultimately exchanged in July 1864, after 1.5 years in captivity. Card style letters average 8'' x 4'' and four pages each. Lot includes two envelopes, one postmarked in Virginia with cancelled stamp. Overall very good condition.
From Confederate Prison in Texas Writes a 42nd Massachusetts Civil War Soldier -- ''...seems as if we were to be left here to die...'' -- Lot of Six Letters
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