4pp, approx. 5 x 8.25 in., Camp Near Stafford Court House, Va., May 8th, 1863. From Corp. Henry Ellis, Co. A, 33rd MA Vols. to friends "Rugg & Griffith." Cover indicates the friends live in Lowell, MA. In part: ...the Regt. has done some pretty hard work and been in some pretty tight places we have not lost or left but a few men from this Co. there is only two missing & Lieut. Meserve wounded. (he was shot in his boot) just before the fight on Sunday so that he was obliged to go to the rear. it was done by a shot from is own Revolver. He goes on to tell them they can probably get a better account of the battle from the newspapers than he can give, since he only saw a small part of the picture, or Dr. Sam Lawrence could tell them when he got back. As Dr. Lawrence was leaving: ...he had to pick up his duds and start pretty quick or the Johnnies would have had him. he left us on Saturday when our Brigade packed up their napsacks [sic] and went out after the Rebs and in less than an hour the Rebs were on the ground and were the owners of all our napsacks, about three thousand of them and we did not know but what they had the Dr. with them, but we have since learnt that he got away. He had about $15,000.00 fifteen thousand dollars of our money, and $25.00 of my own. He goes on to tell them about the battle from his perspective: ...we were supporting Batteries all day but did not have to come with close quarters all day but we expected it (all day) and were ready with our guns all capt [sic]. the Rebs could never have drove us from our position. we were to much for them every time, and what we left and came back here for I don't know as yet, and don't expect to till I get a Mass. paper. in fact I don't know but alittle about the fight, not half so much as one will know after he reads the account in the Boston Journal....we don't know whether Fredericksburg is ours ornot. we knew it was but have since heard that we had lost it again.... I have not had my equipments off for ten days till yesterday. that is staying in the Harness pretty well, is it not.... I only lost one days rations with my napsack but I lost my overcoat - 2 shirts - 1 pr. drawers - 2 pr stockings - 1 pr goves - 2 shelter tents and my sewing materials, also all my pens, ink, & paper &c. &c. I had with me only my rubber blanket but I am no worse off than the rest so I don't car a fig about it. Uncle Sam is going to give us some more. ...we took a whole regt. of Rebbels to pay for the napsacks, so I am satisfied that for four napsacks we got one Rebbel to pay for them. He tells them that he will send fifty cents, and when they see a good account of the battle, they should send the paper to his father. ...(That last battle should be called the Battle of the Wilderness, for it was all done in the woods.) He then tells them he needs to go clean the few "duds" he still has left, as they are pretty muddy from extensive rain. Corporal Ellis fought at the battle of Gettysburg. His loyal service earned him a promotion to 1st Sergeant in Nov. 1864. He was wounded at Lost Mountain, GA (6.16.1864) during the Atlanta campaign, and again, this time mortally, at Bentonville, NC on March 21, 1865. He died of wounds April 13 at New Berne, NC, just days after Lee signed the surrender at Appomattox Court House. Condition: Folds as expected with minor toning along them. Otherwise fine. Cover with a bit of toning and scuffing, as expected for items carried in the mails.
4pp, approx. 5 x 8.25 in., Camp Near Stafford Court House, Va., May 8th, 1863. From Corp. Henry Ellis, Co. A, 33rd MA Vols. to friends "Rugg & Griffith." Cover indicates the friends live in Lowell, MA. In part: ...the Regt. has done some pretty hard work and been in some pretty tight places we have not lost or left but a few men from this Co. there is only two missing & Lieut. Meserve wounded. (he was shot in his boot) just before the fight on Sunday so that he was obliged to go to the rear. it was done by a shot from is own Revolver. He goes on to tell them they can probably get a better account of the battle from the newspapers than he can give, since he only saw a small part of the picture, or Dr. Sam Lawrence could tell them when he got back. As Dr. Lawrence was leaving: ...he had to pick up his duds and start pretty quick or the Johnnies would have had him. he left us on Saturday when our Brigade packed up their napsacks [sic] and went out after the Rebs and in less than an hour the Rebs were on the ground and were the owners of all our napsacks, about three thousand of them and we did not know but what they had the Dr. with them, but we have since learnt that he got away. He had about $15,000.00 fifteen thousand dollars of our money, and $25.00 of my own. He goes on to tell them about the battle from his perspective: ...we were supporting Batteries all day but did not have to come with close quarters all day but we expected it (all day) and were ready with our guns all capt [sic]. the Rebs could never have drove us from our position. we were to much for them every time, and what we left and came back here for I don't know as yet, and don't expect to till I get a Mass. paper. in fact I don't know but alittle about the fight, not half so much as one will know after he reads the account in the Boston Journal....we don't know whether Fredericksburg is ours ornot. we knew it was but have since heard that we had lost it again.... I have not had my equipments off for ten days till yesterday. that is staying in the Harness pretty well, is it not.... I only lost one days rations with my napsack but I lost my overcoat - 2 shirts - 1 pr. drawers - 2 pr stockings - 1 pr goves - 2 shelter tents and my sewing materials, also all my pens, ink, & paper &c. &c. I had with me only my rubber blanket but I am no worse off than the rest so I don't car a fig about it. Uncle Sam is going to give us some more. ...we took a whole regt. of Rebbels to pay for the napsacks, so I am satisfied that for four napsacks we got one Rebbel to pay for them. He tells them that he will send fifty cents, and when they see a good account of the battle, they should send the paper to his father. ...(That last battle should be called the Battle of the Wilderness, for it was all done in the woods.) He then tells them he needs to go clean the few "duds" he still has left, as they are pretty muddy from extensive rain. Corporal Ellis fought at the battle of Gettysburg. His loyal service earned him a promotion to 1st Sergeant in Nov. 1864. He was wounded at Lost Mountain, GA (6.16.1864) during the Atlanta campaign, and again, this time mortally, at Bentonville, NC on March 21, 1865. He died of wounds April 13 at New Berne, NC, just days after Lee signed the surrender at Appomattox Court House. Condition: Folds as expected with minor toning along them. Otherwise fine. Cover with a bit of toning and scuffing, as expected for items carried in the mails.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
