(CIVIL WAR NEW YORK) Hoag Samuel Letters from a corporal at

Sale 2486 - Lot 266

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Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900

(CIVIL WAR--NEW YORK.) Hoag, Samuel. Letters from a corporal at Fredericksburg and elsewhere. 9 Autograph Letters Signed to mother Sarah Hoag; various sizes, minor wear. With 5 original mailing envelopes lacking stamps, one with a Washington postmark; with typed transcripts. Vp, 1862-65

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Samuel Hoag (1845-1894) of Feura Bush, NY, just south of Albany, served as a corporal in the 43rd New York Infantry, which saw some heavy fighting. His 17 December 1862 letter describes the Battle of Fredericksburg: "The shells flew over us quite close, wounding severel in our regiment. Severel went very near us, but we lay down flat and but two were hurt in our company. . . . Isaac Stafford . . . had his right leg shattered so that it had to be amputated. . . . The left wing drove the rebels some distance but were forced to fall back again. We have been fighting for five days, but on the evening of the 15th we recrossed the river and retreated. . . . I suppose you think it is strange how men can stand coolly looking on when others are fighting, but it is so. I myself slept while the fighting was going on, others were cooking there vituals as quietly as if nothing was going on."
Hoag's other letters are less dramatic but include interesting details. On 15 January 1863, he complained about the slow work of the state paymasters: "There are soldiers now in this regiment whose wifes have been turned out of doors in Albany for want of the pay that has been due them these 6 months." His regiment crossed paths with the army's youngest general: "Feb 27th we took up our line of march towards Robison Creek for the purpose of supporting Gen. Custer's raid to Charlottsville."