“We lost three men on the trip. Two jumped overboard opposite New York. The guards fired at them, but I don't think they were hit.”

Exciting, four-page letter that details the attempt of Union soldiers to desert the army by jumping overboard while being transported across the Upper New York Bay.

Autograph letter signed by Anthony Gardner Graves, Jr. (1840-1930), 11th New York Light Artillery, to his parents. 11th Independent Battery NY vols, Near Petersburg, Virginia, 11 October 1864. 4 pages, 4to, 7 1/2 x 9 5/8 in.

Graves writes home describing the scene around his Battery in "Old Virginia,” where “we can plainly hear the crack of muskets, the boom of cannon, and at night, plainly see the shells move through the air and burst. It is a splendid sight, but I can assure you, nothing new to me." He also vividly describes the regiment’s voyage from Hart Island to City Point, "in the transport which was anything but a pleasant one, I can assure you, although our boys fared a great deal better than the other recruits on board as we acted as guards and had the privileges of the boat while the others were stowed away in the hole like so many hogs. The wind was blowing quite a gale and the ship lunged and tossed about frightfully, upsetting tables and chairs, breaking dishes and causing a row in general, making all hands sea sick and such a spewing on every heave of the ship. You would think that all hands was going to turn themselves inside out. I was one of the sufferers by this disease, still, I was not as bad as the majority. John and I occupied a state room and we stayed in our bunks most of the time, which I think was one of the causes of our not getting so sick. We lost three men on the trip. Two jumped overboard opposite New York. The guards fired at them, but I don't think they were hit. A small boat put out from the shore at the same time which I think picked them up. The other one got crazy and jumped overboard off Sandy Hook and was drowned."

Anthony Graves was an enthusiastic soldier who served as private in Company B of the 10th New York State Militia prior to the outbreak of war when he enlisted in September 1861 into Co. F of the 44th New York Infantry and immediately promoted to sergeant. He was wounded in action at Hanover Courthouse, Virginia (27 May 1862), the regiment's first major battle. He was promoted to 1st sergeant on 14 August 1862 but was captured and paroled at Groveton, Virginia later that month. At the close of the year, he was promoted again to 2nd lieutenant of Company G (25 December 1862). The regiment fought in the major battles of the Eastern Theater, including Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. He was promoted again to 1st lieutenant of Co. H in January 1864 and was wounded in action again at North Anna on 23 May 1864, forcing his discharge due to disability. He was not, however, ready to hang up his uniform. He reenlisted as a private on 25 August 1864 in the 11th New York Independent Battery (Light Artillery) and was rapidly promoted through the ranks to 1st lieutenant. He was then assigned to detached service commanding the ambulance corps, and as an Assistant Quartermaster. He mustered out on 9 April 1865 at Albany, New York.

Condition: Heavy old folds with small separations.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Manuscripts, Letters, Documents, Ephemera, POW, WIA]