Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Henry H. Fulton, Co. E, 20th Ohio Vols. [shot by Rebel guerrillas near Pine Level, N. C.,4/10/65; DOW Raleigh, 4/12/65], Black River, [Miss.], May 4, 1863, in part: "…we left Millikens Bend ten days ago and have been on the march ever since. We went down the river below Grand Gulf and crossed over Grand Gulf [which] is 60 miles below Vicksburg. We started the next morning after crossing the river and marched 20 miles where the advance were fighting. We reached the battle ground about five…in the evening. About the time we arrived the rebels commenced a retreat. Our brigade was ordered to follow. We followed them four miles that night but the men were to near wore out to follow farther. We started in the morning to Port Gibson. They have crossed a stream and burnt the bridge. We had to go about ten miles around. We did not see anything of them this day…next morning [we] found the rebels a few miles from the camp. They shelled us a few minutes wounding two men. We drew up in line, planted our batteries when they again started. We followed them all day. We got a good many prisoners…that had straggled. It was a very warm day and men could not stand…to be run so hard. We overhauled them again here at the Black River. They had nearly all crossed the river and destroyed the bridge. They fired a few rounds on us our Regt being in the advance but without effect…this morning the rebels planted a battery and commenced firing on us. I was in the river at the time. The first shot passed clear over my head about twenty feet high…I hunted the shore as fast as possible. While putting on my clothes a ball struck a tree within ten feet of me and I got out of there…our batteries returned the fire dismounting two of their guns and killing several men…a few days ago [when] I crossed the battlefield there was a good many killed. We killed a Rebel Gen., Gen. [Edward Dorr] Tracy…Mc the reporter is with us…Henry." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG
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