Member of 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry Describes Early
Member of 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry Describes Early Months of Service in Washington, DC, and Travel to New Orleans
[CIVIL WAR.] Manuscript reminiscence of member of 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry, 13 pp., 8.375? x 6.625?. Together with typed transcription. Some edge and scattered staining
very good.
Excerpts:
November 1862: “This place was situated in the rear of what was Gen. Lee’s habitation, but now the Arlington house. This is a very pretty establishment, situated near the verge of a slope descending towards the east for a ¼ mile at least.”
“I at length found myself sitting on the side of a very beautiful hill in full view of Camp Casey, where lie the 26th Me. Regt., which I still belonged to
what a spectacle, how beautiful it looked.... Still on our right rearing its national flag of liberty and perching itself on a still more elevated portion of land was Fort Richerson.”
November 15, 1862: “At noon today, the orders came anew to be in readiness for a march and with it, the glad tidings to many, of an expedition to some southern part. Soon, everything was in a bustle and confusion.”
“A heavy mist had settled over the waters and nothing was seen until the morn broke forth in glorious splendor and revealed to our view, the Monitor, with ever watchful eye, at the mouth of the James River, every day, expecting to renew her fight with the new Merrimac, while a little in shore, lie sunk, the Cumberland, whose masts reared their heads just above the level of the sea.”
“The ship rolled heavily which tumbled both men and commissary stores around in confusion. Nearly all of our comrades were seasick, some were vomiting, some praying and some swearing—all mingled with the furious gale, formed a strange music which I do not often wish to hear.”
“Two days after reaching this place, I, with two other of my comrades, sat out on an orange party. We had not gone but a little way before we were joined by several others of our friends who had been a little more expert in their calculations and had got a head start of us but we had overtaken them, thus forming a party of 8 or 10.... We passed on for a long time, chatting and talking until at last a very large orchard appeared in full view which cheered us very much. This was a beautiful orchard the limbs and branches hanging nearly to the ground caused by the abundance of fruit which the season afforded.... our hopes and anticipations were all blighted here for the fruit of this orchard had previously been sold for six hundred and fifty dollars therefore we were unable to make a purchase here, but in full view was another and we sat out again and soon reached the lovely mansion of a Scotch descent where the old woman was ready to take us to the orchard, provided we would cut up none of our Yankee tricks, as she called them. She being thus shy, and also taking three or four little ones as spies caused us to be a little mischievous and also to confiscate a little as we thought would be no harm. One of our company not noticing the little usurps slipped several into his pockets and thinking nothing about it, followed on.... after reconnoitering for a while, we returned and began our purchases, when I heard one of the little things say in a very low tone of voice and pointing at the same time to my friend, ‘he has got his pockets full.’... we soon made our purchases and was soon on our way back, winding along the levees...until coming nearly in sight of our encampment.... This ended our orange cruis and our oranges were almost as soon ended.”
Historical Background:
Organized in Bangor, the 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered in for nine-month’s service on October 11,1862, under the command of Colonel Nathan H. Hubbard. After service in the defenses of Washington, D.C., the regiment sailed for New Orleans, Louisiana, in November 1862. Part of the regiment began occupying Baton Rouge in mid-December, and the rest of the regiment joined it in mid-January 1863. It participated in operations against Port Hudson in March and again in the Siege of Port Hudson in May and June, leading to the Confederates’ surrender on July 8, 1863. The regiment was ordered home on July 25, and mustered out of service on August 17, 1863. The regiment lost 34 enlisted men killed or wounded and 1 officer and 130 enlisted men to disease.
This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.
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Member of 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry Describes Early Months of Service in Washington, DC, and Travel to New Orleans
[CIVIL WAR.] Manuscript reminiscence of member of 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry, 13 pp., 8.375? x 6.625?. Together with typed transcription. Some edge and scattered staining
very good.
Excerpts:
November 1862: “This place was situated in the rear of what was Gen. Lee’s habitation, but now the Arlington house. This is a very pretty establishment, situated near the verge of a slope descending towards the east for a ¼ mile at least.”
“I at length found myself sitting on the side of a very beautiful hill in full view of Camp Casey, where lie the 26th Me. Regt., which I still belonged to
what a spectacle, how beautiful it looked.... Still on our right rearing its national flag of liberty and perching itself on a still more elevated portion of land was Fort Richerson.”
November 15, 1862: “At noon today, the orders came anew to be in readiness for a march and with it, the glad tidings to many, of an expedition to some southern part. Soon, everything was in a bustle and confusion.”
“A heavy mist had settled over the waters and nothing was seen until the morn broke forth in glorious splendor and revealed to our view, the Monitor, with ever watchful eye, at the mouth of the James River, every day, expecting to renew her fight with the new Merrimac, while a little in shore, lie sunk, the Cumberland, whose masts reared their heads just above the level of the sea.”
“The ship rolled heavily which tumbled both men and commissary stores around in confusion. Nearly all of our comrades were seasick, some were vomiting, some praying and some swearing—all mingled with the furious gale, formed a strange music which I do not often wish to hear.”
“Two days after reaching this place, I, with two other of my comrades, sat out on an orange party. We had not gone but a little way before we were joined by several others of our friends who had been a little more expert in their calculations and had got a head start of us but we had overtaken them, thus forming a party of 8 or 10.... We passed on for a long time, chatting and talking until at last a very large orchard appeared in full view which cheered us very much. This was a beautiful orchard the limbs and branches hanging nearly to the ground caused by the abundance of fruit which the season afforded.... our hopes and anticipations were all blighted here for the fruit of this orchard had previously been sold for six hundred and fifty dollars therefore we were unable to make a purchase here, but in full view was another and we sat out again and soon reached the lovely mansion of a Scotch descent where the old woman was ready to take us to the orchard, provided we would cut up none of our Yankee tricks, as she called them. She being thus shy, and also taking three or four little ones as spies caused us to be a little mischievous and also to confiscate a little as we thought would be no harm. One of our company not noticing the little usurps slipped several into his pockets and thinking nothing about it, followed on.... after reconnoitering for a while, we returned and began our purchases, when I heard one of the little things say in a very low tone of voice and pointing at the same time to my friend, ‘he has got his pockets full.’... we soon made our purchases and was soon on our way back, winding along the levees...until coming nearly in sight of our encampment.... This ended our orange cruis and our oranges were almost as soon ended.”
Historical Background:
Organized in Bangor, the 26th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered in for nine-month’s service on October 11,1862, under the command of Colonel Nathan H. Hubbard. After service in the defenses of Washington, D.C., the regiment sailed for New Orleans, Louisiana, in November 1862. Part of the regiment began occupying Baton Rouge in mid-December, and the rest of the regiment joined it in mid-January 1863. It participated in operations against Port Hudson in March and again in the Siege of Port Hudson in May and June, leading to the Confederates’ surrender on July 8, 1863. The regiment was ordered home on July 25, and mustered out of service on August 17, 1863. The regiment lost 34 enlisted men killed or wounded and 1 officer and 130 enlisted men to disease.
This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.
WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.
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Estimate
Time, Location
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