[Rarebooks] FS: Civil War Soldier's letter from South Carolina

[Bob Petrilla]

Hale, Seth P. HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO MOTHER AT READVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS,
FROM THIS HORSE SOLDIER OF THE 2nd BATTALION, 4th MASSACHUSETTS CAVALRY
COMPANY, WRITING FROM ST. HELENA'S ISLAND AND OTHER LOCALES. Original
manuscript. Octavo, 4pp + cross-written portions. Black ink on cream paper,
in a sometimes difficult but readable hand. Folds beginning to separate,
still intact. This is quite a long letter. In part: "Dear Mother, I have
not had a chance to send a letter home. I write now on account of the 2
mast Steamers being used to carry troops towards Richmond....April 23rd we
left Readville and went on board the Western Metropolis and started out
into the pond (and a pretty little pond to[o]) After we were anchored in
the stream where they could not get away they pade us our $3.25....28th
arrived to Hilton Head in the afternoon we landed at St. Helena Island or
fly Island there was any quantities of little sand flies and nice warm
weather say nothing of the little Niggers. There were some Negro troops on
the same camp ground with us. It was quit[e] pleasant there rather wild
country....By the first of June corn was up and large enough to hoe, peas,
potatoes and more delicant kinds of plants than most of the folks have
there in their front yards. Trees and bushes over all leaved out....We
arrived to Fortress Monrow [Monroe] about noon and landed in the afternoon
then started for camp to Newport News and got there in the evening about 9
P.M. then camped out the best place we could find. Maj, Capt, Lieut, and
Private were all alike in the morning....I have got my horse assigned to me
and a good one to [too]. I had my pick out of about 75 of them. We have a
good lot of horses most of them small but they are good ones....We have the
Spencer Repeating Rifles. By shooters they are recommended very highly and
I think that the 2nd Battalion will make some pretty tall tracks when we
get started after old Jef Davis....We are camped on the banks of the James
River....Direct your letters to Washington, 2nd Battalion, 4th Mass. Cav.
Co. and I guess I should get it. If we do not stop long here at Newport
News, Virginia my 9th letter
will follow I guess be sure and direct as I told you. I will write again
soon if nothing happens.,,,. I should like to have you see the fleet that
left there last Thursday six Monitors and a lot of gun boats and any
quantity of steamers with troops and one gun boat was blown up. Well the
same day the day __ all came they took a gun boat from the Rebels. There
have been some pretty big guns set off down to the South it sounded more
like thunder than like a gun There is a report of 25,000 of Lee’s Army
taken __ soldiers. I will know I lost [?]. from Seth P. Hale" Good .
[Seth P. Hale is on the roster of the 4th Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the
Massachusetts Cavalry. Here is their service record as provided by the
National Park Service. "2nd Battalion.-(Cos. "A," "B," "C" and "D.") Sailed
from Boston for Hilton Head, S. C., on Steamer "Western Metropolis" March
20, 1864, arriving April 1. Picket and outpost duty at Hilton Head till
June. Expedition to Ashepoo River May 22-26 (2 Cos.). 2 Companies moved to
Jacksonville, Fla., June 6-8, and duty there till January, 1865,
participating in skirmish at Front Creek July 15, 1864. Raid from
Jacksonville upon Baldwin July 23-28. Skirmish at South Fork, Black Creek,
July 24. St. Mary's Trestle July 26. Raid on Florida Railroad August 15-19.
Gainesville August 17. Magnolia October 24. Gum Swamp October 24. 2
Companies on duty at Hilton Head, S. C., June to November, 1864. Expedition
to John's Island, S. C., July 2-10. Operations against Battery Pringle July
4-9. Expedition to Boyd's Neck November 29-30. Battle of Honey Hill
November 30. Expedition to Deveaux's Neck December 1-6. March to Charleston
January 15-February 23, 1865. Potter's Expedition to South Mills, S. C.,
April 5-25. Statesburg April 15. Occupation of South Mills April 17.
Boykin's Mills April 18. Denkin's Mills April 19. Beech Creek, near
Statesburg, April 19. Duty in the Dept. of the South till mustered out."]
  $375.00

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