Corporal Aaron N. Burr 147th Regiment, Company C, NYSV Wartime Letter and 1/9th Plate - Gettysburg Unit
Corporal Aaron N. Burr 147th Regiment, Company C, NYSV Wartime Letter and 1/9th Plate ambrotype - Inventory Number: HAR 089 - SOLD
Gettysburg Unit. Private later promoted to Corporal Burr was a 147th NY Soldier that was wounded-in-action (middle finger of his left hand) by a mineball at the Spotsylvania Court House, May 8, 1864. His left hand was later amputated. 1/9th plate ambrotype of Aaron N. Burr in uniform with pistol in belt. Comes with his complete military, muster rolls, and pension records from the National Archives and a wonderful, content-rich, signed Civil War letter written on patriotic red and blue-edged paper to his parents from Camp Morris (9 miles outside of Washington, DC dated November 7, 1862). He mentions his brother Elisha Burr, Jr., some of his Company "c" comrades and seeing and cheering President Lincoln and Secretary Seward at dress parade!
Patriotic matte and full case. The image has some mottling to its surface, but no bends or chips. The image is identified in that it came with the letter from the same estate out of Oswego County, NY where Burr enlisted and returned to after the war, becoming an active GAR member at his local Pulaski Post #111 as an Alternate Delegate.
The 147th NY was a great Gettysburg unit. An amazing photographic and written identified grouping with provenance!
Aaron N. Burr:
Residence was not listed; 24 years old.
Enlisted on 8/21/1862 at Richland, NY as a Private.
On 9/22/1862 he mustered into "C" Co. NY 147th Infantry
He was discharged for disability on 5/12/1865
NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)
One Hundred and Forty-seventh Infantry.-Cols., Andrew S. Warner, John G. Butler, Francis C. Miller; Lieut.-Cols., John G. Butler, Francis C. Miller, George Harney, James Coey; Majs., Francis C. Miller, George Harney, Dudley Farling, Alex. R. Penfield, James Coey.
This was an Oswego county regiment, organized at Oswego and there mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 23, 1862. It received by transfer on Jan. 25, 1865, the remnant of the 76th N. Y. The regiment left the state on Sept. 25, 1862, and after serving for a time in the defenses of Washington, north of the Potomac and in the provisional brigade, provost guard, Army of the Potomac, it was placed in the 1st division, 1st corps.
It was under fire for the first time at Fitzhugh's crossing below Fredericksburg, one of the preliminary movements of the Chancellorsville campaign, losing a few men killed and wounded. It was in reserve at Chancellorsville and sustained no losses. In the 2nd (Cutler's) brigade, 1st (Wadsworth's) division 1st corps, and commanded by Lieut.-Col. Miller, it marched on the field of Gettysburg.
"The brigade-Cutler's-was the first infantry to arrive on that field and to it fell the honor of opening that famous battle, the first volley coming from the rifles of the 56th Pa. When Cutler's troops were forced back, the order to retire failed to reach the 147th, as Col. Miller fell wounded and senseless just as he received it, and so the gallant band, under Maj. Harney, continued to hold its ground. A temporary success near by enabled the regiment to retire in good order; but not all, for of the 380 who entered that fight, 76 were killed or mortally wounded, 146 were wounded, and 79 were missing; total, 301." (Fox's, Regimental Losses in the Civil War.)
The regiment took part in the Mine Run campaign-the last campaign of the 1st corps-sustaining a few casualties, and then went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. In March, 1864, when the 1st corps was broken up, it was assigned to the 3d brigade, 4th (Wadsworth's) division, 5th (Warren's) corps, and was actively engaged in all the battles of the corps during Grant's bloody campaign of 1864-65.
While in the 5th corps it took part in the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna river, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, first assault on Petersburg, siege of Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Boydton road, Hatcher's run, White Oak ridge, Five Forks and Appomattox.
The total casualties of the regiment from the opening of the campaign in May, 1864, until Lee's surrender, amounted to 477 killed, wounded and missing. It was mustered out near Washington, D. C., June 7, 1865, under Col. Miller. The total enrollment of the regiment during service was 2,102, of whom 581 were killed or wounded; 9 officers and 159 men were killed or mortally wounded; 2 officers and 177 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 11 officers and 336 men.
Report of Lieut. Col. George Harney, One hundred and forty-seventh New York Infantry.
CAMP NEAR PETERSBURG, VA., August 8, 1864.
Report of the operations of the One hundred and forty-seventh Regiment New York Volunteers, from May 4, 1864, to July 30, 1864.
FIRST EPOCH.
Broke camp on the morning of May 4, at 12.30 a. m., and moved in the direction of the Rapidan; crossed the river at Germanna Ford at 1.30 p. m., and encamped at old mill, on Chancellorsville road; moved the next morning at sunrise and engaged the enemy at 10.30 a. m. on the road toward Orange Court-House. Operations continued till the 7th. In the several engagements we sustained the following losses: Killed, 15 men; wounded, 4 officers and 86 men; missing, 2 officers and 64 men.
SECOND EPOCH.
On the evening of May 7 we moved in the direction of Spotsylvania Court-House and came up with the enemy at Laurel Hill on the morning of May 8, at 10 o'clock, and engaged him. The regiment took an active part in the operations at Spotsylvania Court-House. The casualties in the regiment are as follows: Killed, 8 men; wounded, 2 officers, 30 men; missing, 2 men.
THIRD EPOCH.
Moved from Spotsylvania Court-House and crossed the North Anna River at Jericho Mills at 5 p.m. of May 23, 1864; found the enemy in force along the wooded ridge near the Gordonsville and Richmond Railroad; engaged him at this point with the following loss: Killed, 2 men; wounded, 8 men; missing, 1 man.
FOURTH EPOCH.
Recrossed the North Anna on the night of the 27th of May, and crossed the Pamunkey on the 28th, and took up position a mile from the river. Resumed march on the 29th instant, and after moving forward some 3 1/2 miles found the enemy, and engaged him on the 30th, with some loss. On the 1st of June were called upon to support a line upon our right, which was done with a small loss. The losses sustained from the recrossing of the North Anna to the 12th of June are as follows: Killed, 1 man; wounded, 20 men; missing, 1 man.*
Inventory Number: HAR 089 - SOLD