[CIVIL WAR]. A group of letters written in the field from May through September 1864, by Benjamin F. Hulburd, 2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment, part of the famed Vermont Brigade, who would be KIA a month later at Cedar Creek.
Sale 1344 - American Historical Ephemera and Photography
May 31, 2024
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Lot Description
[CIVIL WAR]. A group of letters written in the field from May through September 1864, by Benjamin F. Hulburd, 2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment, part of the famed Vermont Brigade, who would be KIA a month later at Cedar Creek.
"WE HAVE DRIVEN OLD EARLY FROM THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH HAVE GAINED TWO THE GREATEST & MOST DECISIVE VICTORIES OF THE WAR & AIN'T YOU PROUD TO THINK THAT I HAD A HAND IN IT?"
6 page letter. "Camp in the Field," 26-29 May [1864]. 5 x 8 in. (folds, soiling). With stamped and cancelled cover addressed to Mrs. B. F. Hulburd of Waterville, VT.
Hulburd opens his letter: "I improve a passing moment at this time in writing a few lines to let you know that 'I still live' and in the enjoyment of perfect health I am almost astonished at this manner in which I have stood the campain [sic] thus far..."
He writes how rapidly his regiment has been moving, saying that they march, fight, and work, sometimes throwing up breastworks that aren't even fully completed before moving to another location. At the time of writing, Hulburd explains they are "Somewhere about 20 miles from Spotsylvania Court House following up the rebs who are retreating towards Richmond."
He again conveys his astonishment at continuing to be alive, believing a supernatural power could be involved: "I have with others been strangely protected thus far & trust I shall be through the campain. Men on my right & left behind & in front of me have fallen yet I am unharmed. The last fight I was in a shell struck within four feet of me & burst killing 3 men & wounding 4 covering me with dirt but recieving [sic] no injury."
He then describes the "sorry sight" after one of their fights: "the rebs lay on their side of the works in places 3 & 4 deep & our men across an open field where they charged upon their (rebs) works lay scattered around like logs & nearer the works it showed how great the cost of that charge."
In a more lighthearted moment, Hulburd records the words of the Division Commander in seeing what the Vermont Brigade had accomplished: "On one occasion when some 800 prisoners were sent back under a guard the guard informed our Division Commander that there were about a 1000 more prisoners the VT Brigade had sent in - he said I wonder what in H--l that Brigade can't do?"
----
4 page letter. "Some where near a place called Coal Harbor, Va," 6 June 1864. 4 7/8 x 8 in., on bifolium (folds, soiling). With cancelled cover addressed to Mrs. B. F. Hulburd of Waterville, VT.
Hulburd slightly modifies his previous opening line here, writing: "I improve the present opportunity (if it can be called such) in writing a few lines to let you know that 'I still live.'"
He gets right into the current state of affairs, explaining:
"Here we are behind our breast works built of logs & banked up on the front side about as high as our shoulders heavy enough to stop balls, in front of us & at a distance of not more than 30 rods is the front line of the rebs rifle pits - when we can see a head sticking up we shoot at it. So also they do the same. How far these lines extend each way from us I cannot tell as I have seen neither end of them but it is for miles each way. We have 5 lines of them say from 5 to 15 rods apart."
Hulburd then draws a small diagram at the corner of the page to show the rows.
He continues: "Occasionaly [sic] one of our men get hit 3 fell in my sight yesterday but how bad they were wounded I am unable to say...There is constant firing back & forth now there is a pine tree in my front say 20 feet from me that I can count 58 ball holes in it..."
To further impress the strangeness of life at war, especially in the midst of battle, he describes a mealtime: "I just this minute made me a good cup of Coffee & fried some pork & hard tack while the balls are whizzing over head like bees..."
Using his knowledge, either from hearsay or more direct means, Hulburd opines as to the immediate future of the battle: "I reckon there will be musick [sic] around here before many days I learn there are several seige guns come up & I think Grant intends sending over a few shells to them soon. They make a terriffic noise but I had a little rather hear them coming than the little minnie ball when there is no protection in my front. I understand that Gen Grant is not a going to ask the men to make another charge at present. It costs too many men. I have been in 2 charges where it would seem impossible for a single person to go - much less a Reg or Brigade, but as yet am without a scratch."
------
6 page letter. "(N)ear a place called Eddingburgh," 23-27 September [1864]. 5 x 8 in. (folds, toning, staining). On personal stationery except for one separate leaf. With cancelled cover addressed to Mrs. Juliana M. Hulburd.
Hulburd speaks of "very interesting times for a few days past" including a victory at Winchester, and a description of the Battle of Fisher's Hill, beginning with the march to Strasburg. He writes that they got into position and worked on putting up breastworks. They then waited while their generals deliberated about what to do. He explains: "Sheridan was for attacking them some of the Brigadiers some what against it one said (Gen Wright) it was a hard looking hole, Sheridan said he would not give a chaw of tobacco for all the rebs there was there."
Sheridan ended up winning the argument, and they made a charge: "We immediately formed & went at them by certain movements I will not attempt to explain. The bullets soon flew pretty thick around us but it was for a short time for they were surprised in the rear by the 8th corps & O you ought to see them run."
Hulburd explains the results of the battle, writing with excitement: "We have driven old Early from the Valley of the Shenandoah have gained two the greatest & most decisive victories of the war & ain't you proud to think that I had a hand in it?"
-------
Together, 3 remarkable letters written by private Benjamin F. Hulburd of Company H, 2nd Vermont Infantry, during that regiment's busy summer and fall of 1864, taking part in some significant battles of Grant's Overland and Valley Campaigns, including Winchester and Fisher's Hill.
The regiment would be engaged again in October, less than a month after Hulburd's third letter featured here, at Cedar Creek. The Vermont Brigade fought hard and long, forming a nucleus for the rest of the army to rally around, and took part in the final charge that crushed Early's army. Unfortunately, Hulburd was killed in action that day.
6 page letter. "Camp in the Field," 26-29 May [1864]. 5 x 8 in. (folds, soiling). With stamped and cancelled cover addressed to Mrs. B. F. Hulburd of Waterville, VT.
Hulburd opens his letter: "I improve a passing moment at this time in writing a few lines to let you know that 'I still live' and in the enjoyment of perfect health I am almost astonished at this manner in which I have stood the campain [sic] thus far..."
He writes how rapidly his regiment has been moving, saying that they march, fight, and work, sometimes throwing up breastworks that aren't even fully completed before moving to another location. At the time of writing, Hulburd explains they are "Somewhere about 20 miles from Spotsylvania Court House following up the rebs who are retreating towards Richmond."
He again conveys his astonishment at continuing to be alive, believing a supernatural power could be involved: "I have with others been strangely protected thus far & trust I shall be through the campain. Men on my right & left behind & in front of me have fallen yet I am unharmed. The last fight I was in a shell struck within four feet of me & burst killing 3 men & wounding 4 covering me with dirt but recieving [sic] no injury."
He then describes the "sorry sight" after one of their fights: "the rebs lay on their side of the works in places 3 & 4 deep & our men across an open field where they charged upon their (rebs) works lay scattered around like logs & nearer the works it showed how great the cost of that charge."
In a more lighthearted moment, Hulburd records the words of the Division Commander in seeing what the Vermont Brigade had accomplished: "On one occasion when some 800 prisoners were sent back under a guard the guard informed our Division Commander that there were about a 1000 more prisoners the VT Brigade had sent in - he said I wonder what in H--l that Brigade can't do?"
----
4 page letter. "Some where near a place called Coal Harbor, Va," 6 June 1864. 4 7/8 x 8 in., on bifolium (folds, soiling). With cancelled cover addressed to Mrs. B. F. Hulburd of Waterville, VT.
Hulburd slightly modifies his previous opening line here, writing: "I improve the present opportunity (if it can be called such) in writing a few lines to let you know that 'I still live.'"
He gets right into the current state of affairs, explaining:
"Here we are behind our breast works built of logs & banked up on the front side about as high as our shoulders heavy enough to stop balls, in front of us & at a distance of not more than 30 rods is the front line of the rebs rifle pits - when we can see a head sticking up we shoot at it. So also they do the same. How far these lines extend each way from us I cannot tell as I have seen neither end of them but it is for miles each way. We have 5 lines of them say from 5 to 15 rods apart."
Hulburd then draws a small diagram at the corner of the page to show the rows.
He continues: "Occasionaly [sic] one of our men get hit 3 fell in my sight yesterday but how bad they were wounded I am unable to say...There is constant firing back & forth now there is a pine tree in my front say 20 feet from me that I can count 58 ball holes in it..."
To further impress the strangeness of life at war, especially in the midst of battle, he describes a mealtime: "I just this minute made me a good cup of Coffee & fried some pork & hard tack while the balls are whizzing over head like bees..."
Using his knowledge, either from hearsay or more direct means, Hulburd opines as to the immediate future of the battle: "I reckon there will be musick [sic] around here before many days I learn there are several seige guns come up & I think Grant intends sending over a few shells to them soon. They make a terriffic noise but I had a little rather hear them coming than the little minnie ball when there is no protection in my front. I understand that Gen Grant is not a going to ask the men to make another charge at present. It costs too many men. I have been in 2 charges where it would seem impossible for a single person to go - much less a Reg or Brigade, but as yet am without a scratch."
------
6 page letter. "(N)ear a place called Eddingburgh," 23-27 September [1864]. 5 x 8 in. (folds, toning, staining). On personal stationery except for one separate leaf. With cancelled cover addressed to Mrs. Juliana M. Hulburd.
Hulburd speaks of "very interesting times for a few days past" including a victory at Winchester, and a description of the Battle of Fisher's Hill, beginning with the march to Strasburg. He writes that they got into position and worked on putting up breastworks. They then waited while their generals deliberated about what to do. He explains: "Sheridan was for attacking them some of the Brigadiers some what against it one said (Gen Wright) it was a hard looking hole, Sheridan said he would not give a chaw of tobacco for all the rebs there was there."
Sheridan ended up winning the argument, and they made a charge: "We immediately formed & went at them by certain movements I will not attempt to explain. The bullets soon flew pretty thick around us but it was for a short time for they were surprised in the rear by the 8th corps & O you ought to see them run."
Hulburd explains the results of the battle, writing with excitement: "We have driven old Early from the Valley of the Shenandoah have gained two the greatest & most decisive victories of the war & ain't you proud to think that I had a hand in it?"
-------
Together, 3 remarkable letters written by private Benjamin F. Hulburd of Company H, 2nd Vermont Infantry, during that regiment's busy summer and fall of 1864, taking part in some significant battles of Grant's Overland and Valley Campaigns, including Winchester and Fisher's Hill.
The regiment would be engaged again in October, less than a month after Hulburd's third letter featured here, at Cedar Creek. The Vermont Brigade fought hard and long, forming a nucleus for the rest of the army to rally around, and took part in the final charge that crushed Early's army. Unfortunately, Hulburd was killed in action that day.
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