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This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2002 Nov 16 @ 10:00UTC-08:00 : PST/AKDT
<b>60. DIARY AND LETTERS FROM 20TH MAINE: GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN </b>A great collection of 39 diary pages and nine letters from Pvt. Elisha Drake, Co. C, 20th Maine Vols. These loose diary pages cover from April through late July 1863, and concern the activities of the soon to be famous regiment as it moved towards its historic role at Gettysburg. Although not actually mentioning the battle, he does include various references to Colonel Chamberlain and the condition of the regiment before and after the battle. Along with nine letters written between July and Aug. 1863 and between Oct. 1864 through May 1865 totaling 44 manuscript pages, concerning the regiment's role at the battle of Peebles' Farm and the closing campaigns of the war, plus references to Booth's death, Davis' capture and the Grand Review. In very small part: "<i>...These leaves were taken from a book that was found where one of the Regts left that went home...gave to me by Corporal Richards...there is a New York Regt under guard all in plain sight...refusing to do duty. They layed down their arms two...days ago. They say their time is up...can't blame them much...seemed rather hard for some of the Regts to go into the last battle [Chancellorsville] when their time up was so near...[May 4, 63]...some of the 25 Maine boys came to our Regt...some of them say they won't any more duty for their time is up...[May 13]...some of the Maine Regt are going to be consolidated and that the 2nd Maine is coming into ours...don't think there is enough to make our Regt as large as it was...boys playing ball seem to enjoy themselves but I am little to old to play ball [he was 42]...they say that Stonewall Jackson was killed but it is not certain...[May 17]...Regt just came in from picket...our colonel [Chamberlain] has gone and left us to take charge of some troops at Aquia Creek...2 Regt. started for home today could see them pass on the rail cars...inspected by Gen. Hooker. All in sight of the Rebels camps [on] the others side of Fredericksburg...[May 20]...our Regt went over to the Depot...to see 2nd Maine start for home. One company did not have but five privates and a Lieutenant...[May 31]...Boys go to the river to bathe. See the Rebs on the opposite side and talk with them. One of our boys went half way yesterday and one of the Rebs came and met him and they shook hands and said if they could settle the war it would be settled before night...we moved to...United States Ford near where the last battle was fought...don't expect to stop long in one place this summer. We are doing picket duty at this ford...digging rifle pits...we can see any amounts of Rebs cavalry on the other side...see some negrow here...saw six little children yesterday in a field where our folks have camped picking old clothe and green backs that had been left...[June 4]...went to a house...talked a while and left the folks were secesh...[June 6]...encamped in a oak grove our Regt and 16[th] Michigan...can see Rebels pickets on the other side of river hear big guns...[June 8]...saw 3 women and a small child...got a red rosey to put on my cap and then returned to camp...[June 9]...cannonading this morning [battle of Brandy Station]...[June 10]...no Rebs to be seen cross the river...[June 12]...our brave agt. [Adjutant John Brown who would become a bvt. brig. general] was some afrightened last night he thought the Rebs where upon us and hastened to Capt. Clark...after examination it was found to be mules pulling hard bread boxes...[June 13]...marched last night till about 12 o'clock...[June 14]...just seen a band of 5 supposed guerrillas...they were taken last night. Supposed to be following our train it is not very safe for soldiers to fall out in this place...[June 15]...there has been cavalry troops been passing here for nearly two hours...at Manassas...one Regt lost 60 from sun stroke...we are on the old battlefield...there is over two hundred Rebs buried a few rods from where we are...[June 18]...two or three of our brigade was killed by guerrillas this forenoon...some of the men drop down dead in the road. Our conel was taken sick last night...[June 20]...marched...to a place called Aldie...the Maine cavalry had quite a fight at this place lost a good many officers it seems to be most cavalry fighting on both sides...our field officers are all sick lieutenant colonel and major is sick this morning. WE ARE IN POOR SHAPE TO GO INTO A FIGHT...[June 22]...followed the Reb cavalry all day and fought them as we went. We drove into Harrisburg Gap...there was many killed on either side...it was a cavalry fight mostly...[June 23]...retreated to Aldie where our wagon trains was left. The Rebs followed us as we retreated...[June 26]...we are once more in sight of the Potomac...the baggage train are passing while we are resting on the bank...can look away on the hills and see white tents...a romantic sight. When will it end...[June 28]...camped within 5 miles of Frederick City...[July 9]...marched this morning from Middletown over South Mountain...today Rebs trying to cross the river...[July 10]...part of the Regt are out skirmishing. Nothing but dismounted cavalry to be seen as yet. Pretty sharp firing of musketry part of the time...one of the Michigan boys just came in wounded belongs to our brigade...[July 13]...encamped in a wheat field. Marched in line of battle toward the enemy's line...at this moment there is sharp musketry firing to be heard. No cannonading yet...[July 19]...we are on the move again...but are waiting for the 2nd Division...[July 23]...went to Manassas Gap found the Rebs at that place and had a skirmish...</i>". The following 22 loose diary pages Drake used to write three letters home, in part: "<i>...[July 30, 63]...there is some talk as though we might move tomorrow...for Richmond...[I] have no paper but this to write upon...if [?] Fuller has to come out here tell him...[to] come into the 20th. He will find some good boys in this Regt and we have one of the best men for a colonel. He [is] not only a brave man but a good man in every respect...[Aug. 4, 63]...my boots are about gone...the tops of my boots are good and if I could mend them they would last...they would probably have lasted some longer if I had not took the taps off but they were so heavy...Mr. Abbot asked if Hooker was a man that drinked. I understand that was the reason that he was relieved of his command. He was drunk in some two or three days in Washington. I think General Meade is a temperance man...</i>". Next, are six letters from Drake while his regiment was stationed on the Petersburg front during the end of the war, in part: "<i>...[Oct. 4, 64]...[battle of Peebles' Farm]...our corps has made another swing to the left...of Lee[`s] line. We left camp last Saturday marched some 3 miles drove in the rebs pickets. Our brigade charged the enemies works and carried them by storm and still hold them but lost pretty heavy in doing it...our Regt lost 65 in killed and wounded...[Oct. 15, 64]...Arad [Thompson] has gone to the hospital sick with dysentery...[he] has been promoted 2nd Lieutenant...Sergeant [George] Wood has been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of company C...[Jan. 22, 65]...Fort Fisher is in our possession. It was taken by the gunboats and land forces...the Rebs contested every inch of ground and our folks held one part of the fort and the Rebs the other...we took some five hundred prisoners and seventy two guns. General Ames was in command of the land force...he was our colonel when we first came out...they buried five hundred Rebels in Fort Fisher. Our loss was pretty heavy...[Apr. 2, 65]...our brigade is...on the South Side R.R. and have captured a good part...of Johnson's army...the 6th and 9th Corps have taken their works in front of Petersburg. There has been awful fighting all along the lines this morning...Warren is relieved of his command and is under arrest at Meade's head quarters...the 6th and 9th Corps are tearing up the RR in Petersburg...[Apr. 5, 65]...Richmond and Petersburg is ours...we have Lee's army on the retreat and are following as hard as we can. Sheridan's cavalry captured all of Pickett's division this morning and a lot of artillery and burst a good part of Lee's train...we captured 7 battle flags this morning, mules, horses and negrows in any quantity. I wish you could see how pleased the negrows seem to be...we captured 84 pieces of artillery with Pickett's brigade...[Apr. 29, 65]...our corps is [?] this road now and our brigade is stationed about eight or ten miles from Petersburg...there is some talk of our Corps taking the overland route to Centreville...my hand has got about well now although not quite all healed up but is doing well...we heard by telegram...that Johnston had surrendered to Grant...Booth the man that killed Lincoln has been shot near or at Front Royal and also that his accomplice were shot trying to cross the picket line...there are less bad men in the world...[May 14, 65]...we are now encamped about five miles of Washington...we hear that the army has got to be reviewed before we get our discharges...this morning Jeff Davis and his staff has been captured...he don't stand so good a chance as he would if Lincoln was alive...Lieutenant wood was shot through the hand and bowels last Friday morning accidentally...I am afraid it will prove mortal...we passed through Richmond last Saturday. It was very hot and there were a good many dropped down dead passing through the city...</i>". A truly rare collection from one of the most famous Civil War regiments. Some staining and soiling, else very good.<b> $1,500-2,000</b>
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