Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Union soldier's war-date battle letter, 3 1/2pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Montgomery Hickman, Co. I, 97th Illinois Vols., "Going down the Mississippi, Jan. 19, 1863", to his wife giving her a detailed account of the battle of Arkansas Post (or Fort Hindman) that occurred January 11, 1863, in part: "…well dearest, I have been in another battle…I do not particularly care about ever again being in a hotter or more dangerous place. Still…I could go through another without flinching. You never heard hail fall on the roof…thicker or faster than the musket balls flew over our heads for about an hour…fortunately the "Butternuts" shot too high and but few of our regiment were hurt…those infernal bomb-shells-they do make such an ugly, shrieking noise. A battle…tries a man's physical as well as moral courage. We know a day or two before hand that we were going to have a fight…you ought to have been here to see the cowards begin to skulk…oh! how sick they suddenly got! There were but about 25 men in our company who went to the battlefield and that is about average of the other companies. I was not to say well myself at the time, but I would have gone if I had to crawl on my hands and knees. Our regiment was the second in the fort and the stars & stripes of our regiment was the first to take the place of the rebel flag. Wils. Campbell [1st Lt. Wilson Campbell of his company] had the honor to first lay hold of the rebel rag. He gave me a small piece…to send to you, but confound the luck, I have lost it. Wils is a brave and nobel fellow. I threw away my old musket after the fight and picked up a splendid Enfield rifle on the battle-field with which I think I can save a sesesh if I ever get another chance. I do so want to kill a rebel and know it, then I will be satisfied…a battle-field after all is over is an awful place and it takes pretty strong nerves not to be shocked at the frightful sights…on every side men mangled in all manners, some without heads-some without arms or legs and others cut in two…our army is agin going down the Mississippi to attack Vicksburgh and this time…we will take the place, but with the loss of thousands of men. Grant's army…will be there…it may require months to capture the place. It may be my fate to fall in battle though I scarcely think of such a result, but I will give my life willingly. There are a great many sick in our regiment and they are dying at the rate of two or three a day and there are a great many too who are deserting. Last night about 25 deserted while our boat lay at shore…M. Hickman." The original transmittal cover is included. Minor toning, else VG
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