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Group of Massachusetts Civil War Letters Sell for $10,000 at Nate D. Sanders

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Massachusetts Civil War Letters

Recently, we at Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com), just sold this group of Massachusetts Civil War letters for $10,000.  Please see below:

Gettysburg Letter Lot From 32nd MA Infantry Soldier KIA at Petersburg — Written “On the Battle field near Gettisburg in Pensylvania…I tell you it was an awful sight to see so maney killed lying on the field…” — Also With Antietam, Fredericksburg & Chancellorsville Battle Content: “…There was a good maney poor fellows that got wounded and killed and burned to death. There was a young lady on the battle field with us and I think that she was brave…”

54 letters by KIA Soldier Charles Derrick of the 32nd Massachusetts Infantry, Co. I, plus 3 additional letters by soldiers in his regiment informing Derrick’s family of his death at Petersburg in June 1864. The 32nd Mass. fought in many of the War’s most notable battles, with Derrick writing here about Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Bristoe Station, Second Rappahannock Station, Spotsylvania Court House and Totopotomoy Creek.

On 4 July 1863, Derrick writes from “On the Battle field near Gettisburg in Pensylvania” to his mother, in part, “…I suppose you will be surprised to hear where I am on the night of the 2nd about 4 oclock. Whe went into the fight. It was one of the hardest fights ever whe had and there was a good maney of the boys wounded. There was 7 of our boys wounded and one killed. Edwin Hall was the one that was killed and me and 2 of the boys buried him this morning. He was killed on the 2nd and whe dident find him till this morning. I tell you it was an awful sight to see so maney killed lying on the field. Whe have taken about 25 thousand prisoners and three of there best generals, Longstreet, H.P. Hill, and Ewell Bell…I thank the lord that he has spared my life through this awful battle…Charles E. Derrick”. He writes again a few days later about Gettysburg, including a small wound he received during the fight, in a letter to his mother on 9 July, “…it has rained most everey day since whe have whipt the rebs awful bad, the warst licking ever they got and they was much surprised when they found the Army of the Potomac was here. They found the wrong coustomers, it was the hardest fighting the armey ever see. Whe charged on the rebs 2 times and drove them. Our rigement lost 90 killed and wounded and I was struck in the side with a spent ball on my roundabout but it dident hurt me aney. I tell you that whe was close to the rebbels and they are retreating now and whe are right after them. There retry is cut of and they cant get across the river. Whe have burn their pontoons up and they must ether surrender or fight…” On 19 July, he tells his mother of the Confederate’s retreat, “…whe give the rebbels an awful whiping and whe come werey near taking the hole of them. Whe took a great number of them prisoners. They had to flee in great haste for there lifes. A great number of them was drownded. They never got such a whipping here before, they say so them selves. They lost half of there army…They have lost Vixburg and Port Hudson and next will be Charleston…” No doubt feeling emboldened from the battle, he shares his dream of killing Jefferson Davis on 3 August, “…I had a dream last night how I killed Jef Davis. I should like to get the chance. There was five deserters shot Saterday 29 and I tell you it was a solem thing to see them march with there coffin in front of them and the band playing the dead march…”

After enlisting in July 1862, Derrick’s first big battle was at Antietam, of which he writes on 24 September from “Camp Near Sharpsburg…We had a hard fight with the rebbels the other day and we drove them and ther was a good maney killed on both sides and we could see them laying all a long the road killed and wounded. The rebbels say that Gen. MacClennen has got to manay men for them and they are getting scart of him…We was on our arms everey day for ten days and we have ben laying in the woods 2 days and the balls flying over our heads…” He writes again on 22 October at the same camp, “…Whe crosed the Potomack River the other day with about 12 thousand men to see if whe could find the rebbels and after we marched 10 miles whe found them in strong forces and whe had a skirmish with them but ther was non of our boys hurt. Whe was in the rear and so we did get a chance at them, but this was some of the oter rigement lost some. This is what whe call a recanoisance in force…Pray for me dear mother…”

His mother’s prayers no doubt sustained him through several more battles over the next two years, including Fredericksburg of which he writes on 17 December 1862, “Camp Near Fredricksburg…I may thank god that I am a live and well as I have just come out of battle. We was in Battle of Fredricksburg 2 days and there was onley a few of our boys wounded and non kiled and it was an awful site to see all the killed and wounded on field. It was the hardest fought battle that ever was fought yet. There was about 15 or 20 thousand killed and wounded. The rebbles was so strongly fortified that we could not drive them. They had brest works thron up…” On 5 January 1863 he writes, “…that battle in Fredricksburg was an awful one. Ther was an awful sight to see all the killed and wounded on the ground suffering…” Apparently several soldiers in his regiment had had enough of sickness and fighting after Fredericksburg; Derrick writes on 14 January, “…ther is a great maney that will desert youst as soon they get payed of. Some of the soldiers got payed before the Battle of Fredricksburg and a good maney of them deserted…Ther is a great maney that die with the diarea out here, but I hope that god will spare my life to get home once more…” Even Derrick writes on 7 March, thinking about the battles he’s witnessed, “…I don’t want to go in to another fight if I can help it for I tel you it is an awful sight to go on a battle field…”

Derrick writes on 19 March 1863 about the Battle of Kelly’s Ford, “…ther was about a thousand rebbels come this side of the river yesterday and there was a division of our cavelrey and some artilery and they had quite a fight and our folks went a cros the river and drove the rebbels out of there rifle pits and whe tok 700 prisoners and ther was onley a few of ours killed and once in while our folks have a little skirmishing with them and whe always get the best of them…Whe have onley about 50 in our company now for dutey. There has been a good maney that has been discharged and some have dyed…” Likewise on 11 June 1863, Derrick describes the Battle of Brandy Station, “…I will tell you a little news, whe went to cros the river…Whe found the rebbels caverley in strong force and our cavelrey was sent out as skirmishers and the rebbels came out in strong force and then all our cavelrey was sent out and there was some hard fighting. They had some hand to hand fighting and there was a number of the cavelrey killed on both sides and whe too about 200 prisoners and whe was sent out to support the cavelrey and our cavelrey got the best of them and whe wasent needed. Whe laid about 1 mile from where they was fighting…”

In May 1863, Derrick writes his mother and brother about the Battle of Chancellorsville in a series of 4 letters. The first, dated 5 May, reads in part, “…Whe are laying behind the brest works. The rebbels are trying to come and breake our lines, but whe are to much for them and last night whe advanced on the rebbels and drove them and took some prisoners and they said that they was almost starved and was glad to come in to our lines so to get some thing to eat and whe have taken 7 thousand prisoners since the fight begun and whe took Fredricksburg and a lot of prisoners…” On 7 and 11 May he recounts the fighting, “…Whe had some fighting. Whe had the rebbels surrounded but the 11th Army Corps run and that spoiled the hole and if they hadent run, whe would have taken the rebbels all prisoners and there was onley one killed I our regiment and non wounded and whe took 7 thousand prisoners…even on the battel field I was thinking about you. How often you have heard it for me and I tell you that the bullets was flying all around me and I think that it was gods will that non of them should hit me. There was a good maney poor fellows that got wounded and killed and burned to death. There was a young lady on the battle field with us and I think that she was brave. She was taking care of the wounded soldiers…” He discusses the death of Stonewall Jackson on 23 May, “…the rebbels say that they should rather lost 20 thousand men than to have lost Jackson for he was a smart general. The rebbels say that they give us a good licking, but I cant see it for I think that whe whipped them and whe took 2 men to there one and whe drove them from Fredricksburg and took 60 pieces of artierey from them and drove them with the point of the baynet so that they had to leave there guns and every thing behind them and maney a poor fellow was killed over there…”

In October 1863, the 32nd Massachusetts fought at the Battle of Bristoe Station, which Derrick describes in two letters dated 17 October and 23 October, “…Whe have had some prettey hard marching night and day and hardly aney sleep at all. Whe have fell back to Centervill Hights and the rebs followed ous right up and whe had to turn around and drive them back and I tell you that they went doubble quick. Whe had a fight with them and captured 5 guns and a number of prisoners at Bristo Station. The prisoners was an awful looking set of men, barefoot and raged…” He continues, “…I tell you that whe made them rebs go bullrun quick step. They never went so fast before whe had drove them acros the Rapahanock River. They wanted to get Centervill Hights before ous but they wasent smart enough for ous this time. I think that they are a little afraid of ous. Whe had a fight at Bristo Station near Manases and whe drove them out of it and took a lot of prison and five pieces of cannon from them…”

A month latter on 15 November 1863, Derrick writes to his brother about the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station, “…It was quite a little fight whe had. Whe took 22 hundred prisoners and 2 pieces of cannon. Whe took them al by surprise. They was going into winter quarters. Some of them was playin foot ball when our cavelry come right into there camp. The Yankees are getting to smart for them, for them greybacks is most played out and old. Mead is bound to push things right through. Now them rebs are in a starving condition and they soon have to cave in. Our division is doing picket duty from Kelly’s Ford to Belton Station for there is a good maney gurrillas around here. The railroad from Bristow Station to Rapahanock Station was all torn up. You never see such a sight as it was burnt the sleepers all up and bent the iron rails all up…” He continues on 16 November in a letter to his mother, “…We ar within 4 miles of the Rapahanock river and the rebbels is the other side of the river. There is 100 and 80 thousand men here now and I suppose that there will be an advance before long…”

On 17 May 1864, Derrick writes about the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, where the 32nd Massachusetts lost over 100 in killed and wounded, “…whe have been fighting night and day for ten days. It’s the hardest fighting ever was known. Whe have made a number of charges and got repulsed and that was the worst of it. Whe have lost 145 in our regiment killed and wounded. I hope this will be that last fight and settle the war at once for it lasted long enough…I will tell you howas wounded and killed in our company.

Sergt. McCartney
Segt. Charles Smith
Corp William Golbert
Corp Wm Greenlaw
Corp T F McCarthey
Privates
W H Hammet
William Crosbey
Franklin Williams
John D Sheed
Henrey Squires
Thomas Pike
Edward Berrigan
John Riley
Albert Holmes

…This is a good maney for one camp to loose. I thank god for sparing my life so far…Whe are lying right in front of the enemy now…”

Sadly, in one of Derrick’s last letters home, just after he fought in the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, he writes that “God is on my side lateley”. Dated 31 May 1864 to his mother, he writes, “…I think God is on my side lateley. Whe have had some prettey hard fighting. Whe made a charge yesterday and lost a good maney in our regt. Whe lost 4 in our company wounded, but whe drove them greybacks after all. They skeedadled and whe took a good maney of them prisoners…”

Lot includes two letters from Derrick’s company, informing his family of his death. Composed 19 June 1864, “On The Battle Field” at Petersburg, Sergeant Isaac Smith writes, “…It becomes my painful duty to inform you of the death of your son Charles E. Derrick. It is with feelings of heartfelt sorrow that I write these lines, but in a measure I consider it a duty but painful one. On the 18th of June our regt. was ordered to the front after a respite of a few days we addressed on the enemy’s position drove them. When we halted for a few moments in gully when they commenced shelling us very hard. One of the shells burst in our midst killing your poor boy and wounding one other. Your son dies almost instantly, never spoke a word after he was struck, he died very easily. Now we here in the name of the company to tender our heartfelt sympathy for the loss you have sustained in poor Charlie’s death. In him you have lost a good son and we a brave comrade. One that was loved by the whole company for his good qualities both of head and heart, and may God in his mercy give you strength to bear this dispensation. I searched Charlie’s pockets and found a pocket book with a few pocket pieces and 2 small pictures and also a pipe and a memorandum book, which I will send to you as soon as I can if nothing happens to me. If there does, you must take the will for the deed. I was slightly woundid yesterday by a mini ball on the cheek. It jarred me so that I hardly feel able to write but thinking you would be anxious I thought I would scrawl a few lines hoping that this will find you a in a measure prepared for the sad news I have to communicate…” Smith writes again on 22 June, sending home Derrick’s belongings.

Beyond the copious battle coverage, Derrick also writes of interactions with Rebel soldiers, deserters, and more. Some excerpted content includes, “…I am getting sick of soldiers life. It is an awful life. It is wors than a slaves life…”; “…I had some talk with the rebbels pickets yesterday. Whe was talking with them all day. Pickets don’t fire at each other for it is against the rules to fire on pickets. I was fishing yesterday when I was on picket and the rebbels on the other side was fishing an whe had quite nice time. There whe was to enemeys onley about 100 feet apart. I told them that I was coming on that side to fish for they beter over there…there is a few houses around here and they are all sesesinists and they don’t like to see us come here, but it it wasent for the armey a good of them would starve…There aint much of a chance out her for a Cristion there is so much temptation…there aint no Chaplin in our rigement…”; “…Whe had a hevey rain storm here on the 12 and lightning struck in a number of places. It killed 3 mules. The mules was tied to the wagon when they was killed and a man was sleeping in the wagon at the same time and was not hurt at all…”; “…Ther is five men deserters going to be shot here on Saterday. They was going to be shot yesterday but they had a few days more to live, poor fellows. They are all foringers. There has been a number shot here for desertion. They belong to the 118 Pensylvania Vol…”; “…Deserters are coming everey day and I think there will be some more shooting here and I think a man that deserts ought to be shot. There is one on our rigement that deserted and went home and come substitute and got $500 and he is in the guard house now and I think that he will be shot. He deserves it I think…”; “…Whe marched through Culpepper where our cavelry had fight and drove them out. I tel you it was a hard looking place. Most everey house had a hole in it where our balls would strike it. There was one ledey that was sitting in her house when a ball came in and hit her in the bodey and almost killed her. The rebels are on the other side of the Rapidan River. Our Cavl has drove the rebels from the Rahaphanock river to the Rapidan River…”

Letters average 3pp. on 5″ x 8″ stationery, in very good condition, nearly all signed with Derrick’s full name. A poignant lot from a devoted son. With near complete transcriptions.

Massachusetts Civil War Letters

Massachusetts Civil War Letters Archive.  Click on image to enlarge.

Sold for $10,000.

TO OBTAIN YOUR FREE APPRAISAL of your Massachusetts Civil War letters, please email [email protected], phone (310) 440-2982 or go to http://www.NateDSanders.com.  We are an auction house in Los Angeles specializing in Civil War letters, including Massachusetts Civil War letters. FREE VALUATION for Massachusetts Civil War Letters.

Please let us know if you have Massachusetts Civil War Letters for sale. Top dollar achieved for your Massachusetts Civil War Letters.

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