47059: Civil War Archive of Henry Gray, 123rd New York

Civil War Archive of Henry Gray, 123rd New York Infantry. Consisting of a total of 48 letters, including 38 letters from Gray of which 21 are war-dated letters. All are addressed to his future wife, Sarah Anna "Annie" Buel. The war-dated letters range from February 9, 1864 to November 19, 1865, measuring 5" x 8" and between 4-8 pages in length. Many have retained their original transmittal covers. The entirety of the letters date from February 9, 1864 to May 17, 1900. In addition to the letters are also six Cambridge Valley National Bank checks, dating from October 16, 1879 to April 1, 1881 all signed by Henry Gray. Henry Gray enlisted at the age of 19 as a Captain on August 9, 1862. He was then commissioned into Company G of the 123rd New York Infantry. The regiment saw action at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Atlanta Campaign, where Gray was wounded. After recovering he rejoined his regiment and was promoted to Major on November 19, 1864. Gray survived the war and mustered out of service on June 8, 1865. Henry and Annie married in 1867. Henry Gray's letters to Annie began in February, although one can draw from context that they had known each other previously. Despite their short correspondence, Henry was already looking toward their future together. On March 13, 1864, while near Elk River Bridge in Tennessee, he wrote: "You know I have thought it wrong for a young man to ask a lady to marry him until he has a good home to offer her. Have often said I never would. But should I ever have one and could know that you, who I love better than all else, would share it with me, I should then be happy – should feel I had something to live and do for. If that time ever comes, will you share it with me and be my dear wife? To say I love you with my whole heart and south is saying nothing at all..." As the regiment moved into Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign, Gray wrote to Annie to assuage her fears about his getting wounded. While Gray was able to come away from an engagement at New Hope Church with just a small cut, he describes how many others were not so lucky. His letter of May 29, 1864 reads in part: "The Army has been fighting here for the past five days. On the 25th we had another fight. I had in my company a man who had an arm shot off; another with a ball through his face, breaking jaw; some five or six slightly wounded. In the regiment there were two killed, eighteen wounded severely. It was reported that I was wounded and carried off in a blanket. I did receive a small cut but did not leave the field. Am now as well as ever. Col. McDougall had a leg shot off – is doing well with a firm prospect of recovery. We are generally driving the Rebels. But pay dear for it...we leave the ground covered with killed and wounded. It is a sad sight to see so many of our best men fall – for it is the best and bravest who are always in the front and are first to fall...And I for one do not wish it to stop until the Rebels are either conquered or annihilated..." Just prior to the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Gray wrote a letter to Annie in which he mused on the possibilities of getting wounded and how that would affect his sense of duty. In addition to that he also speaks of how his feelings are torn between wishing to fight for the Union and wishing to return home to the girl he loves. His June 23, 1863 letter, written near Marietta, Georgia, reads in part: "If I had been severely wounded, would you have come to see me. Well I do not blame you for it. But I can imagine nothing worse than to be wounded just enough to prevent me from staying with my company. But be sent to a hospital and know that my company were fighting and I could not be with them...if possible, I shall visit (rebel ball just whistled over my head) you this fall. And still I am almost afraid to trust myself with you. I want to stay in the army until the rebellion is crushed or the rebel army annihilated. And I have never had anyone who had influence enough over me to keep me from doing as I chose but I am a little afraid of you..." The 123rd New York Infantry was next engaged in the Siege of Atlanta, where it suffered losses that weighed upon Gray's heart. He wrote about the unit's loss to Annie and also shared his distaste at a newly appointed colonel joining their ranks after such adversities. The letter dated July 26, 1864 reads in part: "Yesterday we had an engagement in which our regiment lost fifty-eight killed and wounded. I lost seven. Our Captain killed, one lieutenant killed, adjutant wounded and yesterday I hear there had been some ‘outsider' appointed colonel of our regiment. Them combined makes me feel almost discouraged and disheartened, making a man who has not shared in our hardships and dangers colonel of our regiment, we think very unjust...You are constantly in my mind. In battle when men are falling about me groaning and dying, shot and shells are whistling through our ranks or when on the march, hot and dusty. We are dirty, ragged and hungry and thirsty. Then I am glad you are so far from me that you can not see me or know of my condition. On these beautiful moonlight nights when we have some of the greatest sights imaginable. When we can see thousands and thousands of soldiers collected in small groups talking of ‘battle' lost and won. Of their dead comrades or of worry for others with nothing but a blanket around them with a stone in their boots or a pillow sleeping. Then as far as you can see are stacks of bright muskets and bayonets, brass bands playing in every direction. Then Annie, I wish you could be with me..." Henry Gray was wounded during the siege of Atlanta on July 30, 1864. He wrote to Annie on August 3, 1864 to assure her that he was in no grave danger: "If you had no way of hearing except through me you would never know that I have again been wounded. But I know you will hear of it and hear it is much more than it is and perhaps imagine all sorts of bad things. So I will tell you how slight a scratch I have got on the 30th a bullet just licked my elbow on my left arm. It is a little swollen and a little stiff. Will be alright in a few days. It is so slight that I stand on the skirmish line twenty-four hours after recovering from it...Are you quite sure that come what may you will not regret having loved me. Should I lose a limb, I should feel that our meeting was unfortunate but ‘it is better to have loved and lost.' I've no intention of losing a limb or my head either..." In one of his last war dated letters, Gray reveals that the army has been suffering lately due to their line of supplies being cut by the Confederates. In his frustrations, he also has no love for Abraham Lincoln and professes his anger towards any who would reelect him. His October 15, 1864 letter reads, in part: "When I shall hear from you again or you get this, I cannot tell. For the path is again cut. ‘Rebs' in our rear stopped our mail, supplies and everything. We are living on corn bread and half rations of army beef. Horses and mules have nothing at all to eat and are starving and hundreds die daily...Today the regiment voted for President. Lincoln had a majority. I can't understand how any sane man can vote for Lincoln. I think he has done as much towards destroying the Union and disregarding the constitution as much as Jeff Davis..." A very fine and unique archive of a Union soldier's letters, particularly due to their romantic nature at times, while still providing detailed descriptions of war and hardships. Additional letters in the archive include post-war letters between Gray and Annie, as well as letters from Gray's family and friends. Condition: All of the letters have flattened mail folds. Varying degrees of soiling, chipping, tears, and toning. Letters are very legible. The checks have some flattened creases as well, with some soiling and toning. All of the checks have cancellation punches or stamps. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved