LOT #43521 |
Sold on Nov 2, 2024 for: Not Sold
Civil War Letters: Union Letter Group with Battle Content....
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Description
Civil War Letters: Union Letter Group with Battle Content. Group 11 Union letters dated from August 28, 1864 - June 5, 1864. They are not identified to a specific soldier, but most are signed "Henry". Content includes:In the Field near Marietta, Georgia, June 5, 1864 "My Dear Cynthia, Hurrah for our side once more the Rebel army is in full retreat and I am permitted to write a few lines to you. Last night the enemy evacuated his strong entrenchments and skeddadled leaving a great many prisoners in our hands....the main body of our army was maneuvering on the left but I did not know what they were doing. Their movements caused the Reb's to skeddadle. We had a long siege lasting from the 25th May to the night of the 4th of June. most of the time fighting hard. The enemy loss must have been very heavy as He charged us in rifle pits several time. Our loss is not heavy considering the fighting that was done.....three cheers for General Sherman. Never was there an army any finer....:. Signed "HC"
Louisville, KY. August 28, 1864 "Dear Cynthia....General Sherman has sent an order back here not to let any more convalescent go[to] the front at present. What the order is is unsure....so as to be handy in case of any resistance....". Continues with troop movements and orders, not signed.
Exchange Barracks, Nashville, Tenn., September 11, 1864 "My Dear Cynthia....there is a prospect of me getting forward soon....sent about 200 men out of the barracks yesterday and today they are sending them as fast as they can get cars....". Continues with the date "September 12, 1864", continue with camp life and troop movements, signed "Henry".
East Pont, Georgia, September 20, 1864 "Dear Sister....350 was killed and only 15 badly wounded....successful campaign in Atlanta....fifty four killed and wounded....". Continues with camp life and troop comments. Signed "Henry.
East Point, Georgia, September 20, 1864 "My Dear Cynthia....how many times death has starred me in the face....". Continues camp life. Not signed.
September 27, 1864 "....had a review of our Brigade by General Wood commanding our division. Our army is bein rearranged. Our Division the 4th has been tore to pieces and put in the 1st, 2nd & 3rd. Ours is the 2nd Brigade 1st Division 15 army corps....". Continues with guard duty and more camp life. Signed "Henry"
In Camp Nar Big Shanty, Ga., October 10, 1864 / "Once more my dear Cynthia....Reports of a campaign and heavy fighting in General Sherman's army....the enemy made a bold strike to try to cause us to evacuate Atlanta. He crossed the main position of his army across the Chattanooga River below Atlanta and struck for our railroads....the 4th, 14th and 23rd, 15th & 17th Corps started in pursuit of the Reb's leaving reh 20th Corps to hold Atlanta. The Reb's struck the railroad at Big Shanty and tore up the track as far as Atlanta....Here a fight ensued which resulted in the defeat of the Reb's and driving them off the railroad....the Reb's got whipped is that they commenced retreating during each fight. Only one division of our Corps was in any of the fighting....I would think the Reb's would get sick of raiding in the rear of General Sherman....The enemy made one of the most daring moves of the war and they found Billy ready for them at every point....". Continues with Atlanta content. "Billy" being General William T. Sherman. Signed "Henry".
In Camp Near Big Shanty, Ga. October 10, 1864 / "Once More My Dear Cynthia....Reports of a campaign and heavy fighting in General Shermans army....the enemy made a bold strike to try to cause us to evacuate Atlanta....He crossed the Chattanooga River below Atlanta and struck for our rail roads....the 4th 14th 23rd 5th & 17th Corps started in pursuit of the Reb's....Here a fight ensued which resulted in the defeat of the Reb's and driving them off the rail road. The Reb's began to make their way back towards the Chattanooga River, and forces came upon them again at the New Hope Church, again defeating them. I have not heard the particular of whether of the battles fought, but know that our men whipped them....and another thing that makes me know that the Reb's got whipped is that they commenced retreating....". Continues with more Atlanta content. Signed "Henry.
In the Field on Little River, Alabama, October 21, 1864 "My Dear Cynthia....I thought that the Rebel campaign was nearly ended but time has proved to the contrary....we have been chasing the Reb's for 17 days and have never been near enough to hear firing....". Continues with camp life, and chasing the Rebels. Signed "Henry"
In the Field Near Little River, Ala., October 23, 1864 "My Dear Wife....We are laying here now awaiting the motions of General Sherman. I know not which way we will go whether follow the enemy farther or turn back....". More camp life. Not signed
In the field Near Cedar Town, Georgia, November 1, 1864 "My Dear Wife....The third Brigade of our division had a lively little fight-with them driving him out of his works, as soon as the Reb's fell back our Brigade was put in front-we skirmished with them for the next five miles where we found them strongly entrenched behand two lines of works. Our division was formed in line under a heavy fire from a Battery of the enemy. The 1st Michigan Artillery advance to a position and commenced relying to the Reb's. A lively artillery duel ensued and our Regt was drawn up about 200 yards in rear of our Battery. So that all the shells that over shot their mark fell right among us....we got one of the finest shelling's that ever we had, for half an hour they tore up the ground all around, but thank god not a man of our Regt was injured...." Starts a new letter on 3rd page, "In Camp Neat Marietta, Ga. November 6, 1864".....More camp life, troop movements.
A nice archive with good battle content from Sherman's march through Georgia.
Condition: Generally fine, a few letters light, but readable.
Auction Info
2024 November 1 - 2 Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6310 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
November, 2024
1st-2nd
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