Museum Quality Americana
A 12 page letter written in ink from the famous “Corn Exchange Regiment” the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The writer Frances H. Lincoln enlisted in August of 1862 as a Private and by the time this letter was written he had been made a Corporal. Describing the Mine Run Campaign Lincoln stated that “the brush was so thick and tied together by nature it was almost impassable. Several times it caught my knapsack and I had to stop and back out or have it pulled off my back.” On November 28th: “we found the rebels posting a strong picket about 400 yards in front of us. We did not open on them but there we stood watching each other like cat and dog.” Lincoln relates exciting battle action on November 29th as they got ready to charge the rebel works. “There was a creek some twelve feet wide by six or seven feet deep made so by the rebels, with stakes drove in the opposite side sharply pointed. After viewing this for an hour or so, we were told that we must charge their works and take them at any cost.” And on November 30th: “One of our men in Co. H was laying on his belly and a solid shot entered the ground near his head and came out near his feet, injuring him internally.” December 2rd: “Near this place there is a grave near a tree, with the following inscription upon the headboard: Sergt. Williams Company B. 3rd Md. Vols. was hung on this tree by the Rebs for desertion.” Condition: minor tears here and there, good strong ink, a very readable exciting letter. Camp near Beverly Ford, Va. Dec. 17th, 1863 Dear Isaac….. not Teddy I received yours of Nov. 19th in due time and was very glad to hear from you. This is the first chance I have had to answer it. On Monday, Nov. 23rd, we got our overcoats. There was rumors amongst the men of moving. At dress parade, orders were given to be ready to move in the morning, Nov. 24th. It rained very hard but we started on. Stick in the mud number two. After marching a few miles we received orders to return to camp again which as of before was done with great difficulty under the circumstances. Nov. 30th/ We were aroused very quietly about one o’clock A.M., marched about a mile and a half to get half a mile in front of where we started from. Here we formed a line of Battle. The first Michigan in front as skirmishers, the twenty second Mass. on our right, some of the sixth corp on the right of them, our second and third Brigades behind us and our second division in the rear of them so you can see the move was intended to be successful. We laid here all day, pretty near froze to death , short of rations, expecting every minute to get the order to forward. It did not come but the shell did. One of our men in company H was laying on his belly and a heavy solid shot entered the ground near his head and come out near his feet, injuring him internally. At dark we were marched back to where we had started from in the morning. Dec. 2nd/ Started shortly after daylight, marched to Stephensburg between Brandy and Rappahannock Station. Near this place there is a grave near a tree, with the following inscription upon the headboard: Sergt. Williams Company B. 3rd Md. Vols. was hung on this tree by the Rebs for desertion. Dec. 3rd/ Broke camp at 9 o’clock in the morning, crossed the Rappahannock at the station, marched to near our old Camp near Beverly Ford. Then we got three days’ rations. I noticed a great many new made graves at the station as we passed there. About two o’clock, we removed to our present campground. Late in the afternoon our Colonel __ Gwyn come to us from Phila with about ninety men. He was received with cheers tossing of caps and c . Dec. 12th/ We went on Picket and I put in three very miserable days as it was very cold and rainy all the time. Since then we have been building what we suppose will be our winter quarters. When I get a chance, I will try and send a sketch of mine. While we lay here our Brigade has near six miles to Picket so you can bet we are kept pretty busy. Of course, all our late move was merely to keep Gen. Lee busy while Grant had his own way in the west. Our move was successful enough as far as it went, but if we had made the charge I spoke of I don’t think our Regt. would number ten unharmed men today. I suppose I escaped one drunk by being away from home. Tell Matt, I wish him joy if it is not too late. I think Dan Clark is the next candidate. The songs you sent me I received and I thank you for the favor; they while away the hours for obvious reasons I can do nothing else. Give my respect to all the boys and girls. You can rest assured I am in good health and that my goose hangs high. Hoping this may find you in the same condition. I remain Very Truly Yours,
# L6 – Price $695
Transcript of letter:
Nov. 25th/ Cloudy and every show for rain. Rumors of moving again. Nov. 26th/ We again struck tents, crossed Mountain Run, crossed the Rapidan at Culpepper Ford, marched twenty miles carrying five days’ rations, bivouacked near Fredericksburg.
Nov. 27th/ Resumed the march. At this time being near the enemy, our Regt. was thrown out as flankers for our whole Division. We was in woods nearly the whole time. At times we would be compelled to move a hundred feet out of our course to get through; in fact the brush was so thick and tied together by nature that it was almost impassable. Several times it caught my knapsack and I had to stop and back out or have it pulled off my back. The latter did not suit me as it contained a part of my rations. There was very heavy skirmishing on our front. Late in the afternoon we was posted as picket. While doing this we was shelled pretty severely but without doing much damage to us. Nov. 28th/ At daylight we found the rebels posting a strong picket about four hundred yards in front of us. We did not open on them but there we stood watching each other like cat and dog. During the morning it rained very hard. During one of the showers, we was drawn off. Two rebels came in our lines and gave themselves up. They made rather a poor face over the treatment and rations they received in the rebel army. We then marched to Robinson’s Tavern a few miles distance where we bivouacked for the night.
Nov. 29th/ Started about three in the morning, marched about four miles and relieved a portion of the sixth Corp. At this place the rebels had made a stand, the position being the best I have yet seen. They had some forty odd guns visible; god knows how many masked. There was a creek some twelve feet wide by six or seven feet deep made so by the rebels, with stakes drove in the opposite side sharply pointed. After viewing this for an hour or so, we were told that we must charge their works and take them at any cost. At the same time, we was ordered to place our knapsacks in a pile each company by itself and be ready at four in the afternoon to commence work. We done as directed, said our prayers, those who had any to say, and got ready, but we did not charge the works that day. At night we went to roost as best we could under the circumstances as the weather was very cold and we could not have large fires for we were so close to the enemy that they could almost give us grape and canister.
Francis H. Lincoln
E. 118th
