Description:

LETTER BY UNION SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION
Soldier's letter from Stephen F. Downs, Co. K, 3rd New Hampshire Vols, who was killed in action at Drewry's Bluff, May 16, 1864, 4pp. 8vo., Morise [sic] Island, July 31, 1863. Penned in bright blue ink to his brother, in part: ‘…As I am at leasure this afternoon I will try and answer your very kind and welcome [letter]. The present finds me well and rugged as usual…I asked the chaplain about our loss and he told me the total loss was not far from two thousand. He says that we lost in our last charge fifteen hundred and seventeen. We have not lost many since but the Rebs shells us every day. We are very strongly fortified here and we are fortifying every day. Our night duty is very hard but I am in hopes that we shall get ready in the course of two or three weeks. Our batteries are very near Fort Wagner. Fort Sumter does us more damage than Fort Wagner does. Fort Johnson plays on us all she can. You spoke of being drafted…I tell you, Millet, don't let all the money…in the world be any inducement to you…You may think you know something about soldiering…but I don't see that in any light…Stay home if you can…I am willing to serve my time if I should live so long…some of us are a going to see Charleston within two months, and the most of it is going to be done by sieging...'. In a postscript, Longwood adds: ‘The chaplain says that our regiment lost not far from one hundred killed, wounded and missing…'. In the charge on Fort Sumter July 18, 1863, the 7th Indiana lost heavily as indicated in this letter. Shortly after the evacuation of Fort Wagner, they were ordered to do provost duty as a respite from excessive duty in the trenches. Longwood was one of the first to enlist and remained with his regiment until his death.

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January 18, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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