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Union Soldier's 1864 Superlative Account of th Union Soldier's 1864 Superlative Account of the Carna

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
Union Soldier's 1864 Superlative Account of th Union Soldier's 1864 Superlative Account of the Carna
<B>Union Soldier's 1864 Superlative Account of the Carnage at Cold Harbor</B></I> Autograph Letter Signed in the hand of Private William H. Peckham of New Hampshire, a musician with the 2nd Brigade Band, 1st Division, 7 pages, 5" by 8", near Petersburg, Va., June 29, 1864; to "Friend Daniel." In Fine condition. With typed transcription. In part: "<I>Our Band was stationed at the 18th Corps Hospital... You have no idea of the suffering & hardships of the wounded, at the battle of Cold Harbor our corps marched 15 miles & went right into the fight so they had no Hospital fitted up & when the wounded began to come in they had to carry the men in to the woods & fit up amputating tables, as best they could.., Serious wounds were attended & then they were laid out on the ground with nothing but a rubber blanket under them & a woolen blanket over & nothing more & some of them laid 3 days in the open before they were carried into the Hospital. I tell you Daniel I don't want to see another such sight as long as I live. Some of the men had one leg off some both some with arms off some with a bullet hole in the head & in every part of the body. It was a sickening sight but one gets used to it after a few days or at least I did & could stand by & see Surgeons take off a leg or arm & not mind it much... You know more about what is going on out here than we that are right out here for there are reporters all around & they can find out by the Officers all that is going on but we cannot unless we are right there...</B></I>" From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection.