Civil War Letter from the Merrimac to the Battle of New Bern, March 14, 1862 by Davis, Charles A. (23rd Massachusetts Infantry)

4 Page Autographed Letter. Signed and dated March 11 and 16, 1862, the original mailing envelope, and an Imperial CVS photograph of Charles A. Davis, 23rd Mass. Infantry, 1st Brigade, Company D-Coast Division. Letter from Charles A. Davis to Sarah E. Horton (his cousin) at New Bedford, Mass. in original patriotic envelope with the "Death to Traitors" mailed from New Bern, North Carolina [postmark on verso New Bedford, March 26] with front with Scott stamp $65, rose color, bust of Washington, August 1861 issue. He begins on the schooner Hilander March 11, describing the unhealthy conditions at Hatteras, lack of food, and being over drilled. He notes she has probably heard about the Roanoke fight. Describes the hours it took to get them between four schooners and the difficulty. They had heard Norfolk was taken and the news was that the rebel floating battery Merrimac had made sad havoc among our vessels, it is reported that the frigate Cumberland was sunk and the Minnesota badly disabled and 500 of our men killed. It caused a gloom on all on board. We all are threatening vengeance upon them, and we will pay them in a day or two. We expect to have a hard fight but are all full of courage and patriotism.... we shall win the battle. Several of our company are sick in the hospital on the island, one wounded, John Battles, who is given a two month furlough and Stevens, a Providence chap has been discharged as unfit for duty. Lt Hart we punished severely at Annapolis. He continues: March 16, New Bern. Gen. Burnside forces occupy New Bern after hard fought battle, our loss is heavy, enemy entrenched very strongly with 13 pieces of artillery. Our regiment marched up and blasted away, our company suffered severely, Waller A. Potter killed as shell to top of his head right off. Charles Davanaugh, grape shot through the heart, Captain J.B. Bowman died in the heart. Samuel Johnson, wounded in leg, had to be amputated. Others wounded Noah Lake, Ed Jennings, Artemas More wounded in back, describes aftermath where he sees enemy had great losses. Aff. Cous. Charlie Note: The Civil War Index on the 23rd Mass. Infantry notes the following: "The total strength was 1,393. Co. C came from Gloucester, Co. D from New Bedford. It started for Annapolis on Nov. 11 and joined the "Burnside expedition." The first expedition was against Roanoke Island in Feb, 1862 and was a success. Then followed the movement to New Berne and several engagements in that vicinity. The list of Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War and A record of the Twenty-third Regiment Mass. Includes: fuller details of each of those wounded or killed above. The severity of the battle is shown by the early discharge or reassignment to non-combat roles, p. 69 lists the casualties from Co. D. When the Medical Staff (p. 99) visited the battleground at New Berne and found the burying-ground, only the grave of Potter could be located (by Lieut. Hart [see above when he was at Annapolis and apparently had caused problems] The earliest accounts in the North were in the New York Herald on March 19th and 20th issues.