Civil War Private Reports Gen. Hooker Is Fighting, Fine Patriotic Cover

Description

BRAINARD D. HEALEY, enlisted as a Private on August 14, 1862, and was mustered into C Co. NH 14th Infantry. He died of disease on August 25, 1864 at Fort Monroe, VA. Comes with a very fine New Hampshire Patriotic Cover.  The regiment served at Camp Parapet, Carrollton and Jefferson City until June 1864. The 14th served at Fortress Monroe and Berryville. From August to December 1864, the regiment was part of General Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah and participated in the Third Battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864, with heavy losses at the Battle of Fisher’s Hill and the Battle of Cedar Creek.
4 pp, 5 x 8, Camp Adirondack, Washington, May 2nd, 1863, writing to his friend Charley.
In part, “...We are now camped near Washington in sight of the city and the capitol...This is the finest camp ground that this regiment ever was in. The streets are hard as floor, well swept and clean, the stockades are white washed...The boys all take pains to keep themselves neat and clean. They black their boots, put on a shining polish...keep their clothes well brushed...This regiment isn’t ashamed to be by anybody anywhere. It has been a little over 6 months since we left Washington and all of that time we have been doing picket duty in the river, ‘out in the wilderness’ where we could see nothing but woods and hills and it seemed to me as though we weren’t of the civilized world but we are once again in Washington, our nation’s capital, the center of business...the civilized world again...This brings to our minds old N.H. scenes...Night before last I & others got a pass and went down to the city and saw the first train of cars I have seen in 6 months. It looked like New Hampshire...We went round east side of the Capitol...and I can say...it is a splendid piece of work...Three weeks ago tomorrow we had orders to prepare to march & the next day our destination was supposed to be Ky...We were ordered to report to Washington, which place we arrived after 2 hard days march...What they will do with us now is more than I can tell...Some say we are going to the front; some say we are going down on the coast; some say we are going back to Poolesville again...Probably there is no doubt but that Gen. Hooker is fighting the rebels...The news from that portion of the army has been suppressed...I feel very much concerned to know what success he is having...How many of the boys...have skedaddled to get out of the draft? How do the folks feel about the way...”
Folds, toning.
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