1861 - 1864 ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT LETTERS HANDWRITTEN BY A 19th REGIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER TO HIS DEAR FRIEND AND FORMER BOSS DAVID SMITH: SUPER CIVIL WAR CONTENT

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On offer is a superb archive of eleven [11] original manuscript letters [ALS] handwritten by George B. Carlton of Newburyport, Massachusetts, a member of Co. B of the 19th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers in the Civil War. The letters were all written to Carlton's former employer in Newburyport, Mr. David Smith. Excellent primary Civil War content, unseen for 150 odd years coming recently from the estate. These letters date from December 8, 1861 to May 22, 1864 [nine written in 1862], mostly 5 x 8", total 28pp. Here are some snippets of the fine Civil War content: [8/12/61] "... Since I wrote to you we have been on the march and the road was mudy enough I can tell you we are encamp in a pleasnt Spot it is Surrounded by wood And about twenty miles from washington...," [1/8/1862] "... we are at work on the fort [Seneca]... the last mounth it has done nothing but rain and Snow and the going is awlfull as the mud is half a knee deep... we had to go five miles and in Some places the mud was over boot and thir is a brook witch is up to our knee and it was 25 or 30 feet wide and when we got there we had to Sleep in the cold tent without any fire... the neggroes came here with cake and pies to Sell... you would laugh to see the tents that we Stop in I will explain it if I can in the first place we cut two State with two prong to them and Stick them in the ground and then we cut a pole and put it cross on top for ridge pole then we get Some Rail and put one end on the ridge pole and the other on the ground then we get some Straw and put that on and cover it up with dirt then we go and get Some rock and build a fire place then we get Some Straw to Sleep on and I Sleep as warm as if I was at home...," [3/2/1862] "... we have got our New uniform witch consist of dark blue pant and dark blue coat and a blue cap and brass Spud an on the shoulder and they look first rate...," [5/12/1862] "... we are now within 21 mile of richmound we have been on a move for three mounth... and we have had to work harder than I ever did at home... we expect before long to be in richmond and after we take that we expect to be discharge and Sent home... Soldiering is about play out as we are beating the Rebbell all the time...," [8/3/1862] "... I suppose that you have seen what we have been through Since we left yorktown in the newspapers... we have been in two of three Battle and lost a good many men...," [9/8/1862] "... we have Seen Some very hard time Since I wrote to you we are now in Maryland and exspected to have a fight here... we was at harrison landing on the James river and we have been a Marching night and day for 20 days and I dont think we are done yet nor will untill the war is over... the other night when we left fairfax we had not got more than two mile from thir when the Rebble open on us with Shot and Shell witch Burst over our head but did not hurt any one we did not fire any Back untill we had got two miles from the place where they fireed at us... we place two big gun one on each side of the Road and a reg in behind it and we laid behind them we had not laid thir more than half an hour when fire a volley into the rebble and the battry fired two shot and they turn and run and did not trouble us any more...," [9/28/1862] "... we dont have anything to eat but hard bread and coffee and some salt harre... we are within one mile of the potomac we have been call out three time to go over to the river to fight the rebble...," [10/20/1862: gererall hospitall Frederick, MD] "... I am wounded I was hit in the right thigh witch is broke but it is a geting along first rate now... I can get around the barrack and I Shall Soon be abell to come home and eat that dinner with you I was wounded in the battle of the 17th of September at antietam and I was hit early in the morning and was two days and one night in the hand of the Rebbell and they treated me first rate and give me every thing that they could get Such as water and bread and meat and tobacco and the Second night they went off and left me and about 1 or 200 men thir with me...," [10/28/1862] "... it is now Six weeks Since I was wounded and I have been up two or three to Sit... I rest well in the day time but at night my leg pain me a good deal...," [11/25/1862] "... I Sit up all day now and can get round on my cructhes first rate my right leg is three inches Shorter than my left one is... I am glad that thir is not any draft in Newburyport yet but thir is two or three boy in old town that I should like to have out here...," [5/22/1864: Fort Columbus, York Harbor] "... I have enlisted again in the Invelid Corp... but do not like it as well as I did when I was out in front with my old Reg for the duty is harder than it was there... my leg is very Strong now so I can work hard all day... this island is a nice place but I do not like it for a man is treated worse than a dog..." Letters have the expected folds, first letter stained along right edge, all remaining letters in very good condition, letters written in both ink and pencil and all are easily legible, 6 letters come with original transmittal envelopes (all but one with postal cancel & stamp cut away), one envelope signed by E. D. Manscom(?) Chaplain 19th Mass., one envelope with fantastic "19th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers" pictorial engraving across entire front, 5 letters on Patriotic stationery. A truly exceptional collection of Civil War correspondence. Show more