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From Occupied Port Royal. Union soldiers lett

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:28.00 USD Estimated At:55.00 - 75.00 USD
From Occupied Port Royal. Union soldiers lett
From Occupied Port Royal. Union soldiers letter, Hilton Head (S.C.), Dec. 3, 1861, 4 full pp. (incomplete but fascinating), in dark pencil. Highly articulate description of a fatal accident. "...About 4 o'clock in the afternoon I was standing between the cook-tent and the Capt.'s, when an explosion took place shaking the ground under my feet and for a moment stunning me with the shock...The smoke was just clearing and the two Michigan soldiers were just gaining their feet. About 60 ft. off, in the door of the tent, lay my old school-mate, Ben. Stuart. Upon running to him a sight presented itself that so shocked me that I have but a confused recollection of everything till his death...I ran for some water to cool his wounds...The Col., Lt. Col., Surgeon, and Chaplain soon came up and remained with him till the last....I knew Ben's great firmness of character but sure would have thought anyone could have directed so methodically and have calmly arranged at such an hour...There was not a dry eye in the Co...." Describing suffering of his friend. Some toning, else very good.