LOT #47133 |
Starting Bid: $500
Civil War Soldier's Letters (6) by Martin Luther Moore of the 94th Illinois Infantry with Battle of Spanish Fort Content....
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Description
Civil War Soldier's Letters (6) by Martin Luther Moore of the 94th Illinois Infantry with Battle of Spanish Fort Content. Six letters totaling 21 pages, dated March 30 to April 13, 1865. Writing to his wife, Moore's correspondence traces the final Union push against Mobile's defenses and gives a day-by-day account of the siege and capture of Spanish Fort and the operations at Fort Blakely.In late March 1865, Moore was stationed before Spanish Fort, one of the last Confederate strongholds defending the city. In his letter of March 30, he provides a detailed account of the opening phase of the two-week siege: "We called a halt about 1 oclock Sunday, and took position in line of Battle on a high eminence near the Beach of Mobile Bay; communication was soon obtained with Genl Granger who was advancing upon a road to our right about 2 miles, and Genl Smith on his right, about the same distance all converging to one point, Spanish Fort...on Monday, the whole line was advanced and the Ball opened...a number were wounded and some killed the first day...one of our monitors advanced on Tuesday to reposition in shelling distance and was blown up by a torpedo and sunk in shallow water..."
Writing again on April 3, Moore records the intensity of continuous combat in the rifle pits: "Our Regt went to the front line of Rifle Pits Friday night and remained 24 hours during which time 3 were slightly wounded...a recruit of Co. A was killed by musket ball through the head. The day was one of Continual fireing both with small arms and artilery, and it is kept up almost constant, tho, not so rapid, and while I write the music of the 'huming birds' (Bom Shells) fills the air...The enemy have an outer line of works, near enough to talk over with our Boys, and there are some hard jokes cracked...our heavy artilery will soon be in a position to command the fort."
Three days later, on April 6, he reports on the escalating bombardment: "A general bombardment was opened upon the Fort Tuesday Evening which was kept up only about 2 hours...Our Fleete is at work taking up the torpedoes which is a tedious job. Two Gun Boats have been disabled but it is thot they will soon be repaired and ready for work...The prisoners say this will be the hardest fort to take that has been attacked during the war..."
In his April 8 entry, Moore describes the relentless pace of the siege: "The flash of the gun, the roar of the musket and artilery, the keen whistle of cannon ball &c have become so familiar among the last ten days that one can talk or laugh eat sleep or read almost as well as in any other circumstances. The ball continues steadily day to night while preparations are being made for an attack with siege guns..."
He resumes the same letter on April 9 to record the fall of the fort: "...a general cannonade was opened on the forts all around the line and as it was the evening for the 94th to take the advance pits they hastened to the front thinking the Rebs might come out. The bombardment was the most terriffic I have ever heard and lasted till after dark when Smiths men on the right charged the works and took a few prisoners, and a heavy fire of musketry was kept up all round the line, which together with the bombardment, resulted in a perfect stampeed of Johnies from their works...[I] went with the advance of our left wing, to scale the hights of the Fort...but on learning that the Johnies had most all escaped to the islands by means of skiffs and row boats, we were somewhat disappointed..."
On April 12, Moore writes of further victories, including the capture of Fort Blakely, and reflects on the impending close of the war: "There is so much reported respecting military operations that I hardly know how much to believe is true. There is enough however, that I do know to swell the heart with exultant joy and gratitude inspiring hopes of a speedy termination of this 'cruel war'...The united forces of Genl Steel & Smith assaulted the Rebel fortifications at Blakely capturing the whole Garrison...our loss in killed & wounded are said to be about 700...our prisoners list is not far from 5000. The killed & wounded on their side I cannot ascertain...We have rumors of the surrender of Lees army to Grant & Sherman and, God grant that it may be the final stroke, a return to our Govt & laws..."
His final letter, dated April 13, expands upon the capture of Spanish Fort and his opposition to using explosives, even against enemy troops: "Torpedoes were laid in a row about 5 paces apart around the line over which they tho't we would charge, and then inside in many places...But as there was no general charge on this fort, have escaped the dreadful effect of exploding torpedoes which is certainly most brutal or fiendish; the charge however at Blakely suffered some from this mode of warfare I think it will be visited back on them in some way; with everlasting shame and disgrace if in no other way...It does appear that the 'End draweth nigh'..."
Together with two letters from Moore's wife, Joanna, written from Bloomington, Illinois, on April 9 and April 14, 1865. She reports receiving news of the fall of Richmond and expresses hope for her husband's safe return as the war neared its conclusion. Also includes two original transmittal covers.
Condition: All letters somewhat toned with smoothed folds, scattered staining or foxing, and minor wear including small separations or chips. Some fading affecting portions of the April 5 and March 30 letters.
Auction Info
2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction #6328 (go to Auction Home page)
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