Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Excellent content 2pp. letter, Camp of the Penna Calvary, Franklin, Tennessee, April 14, 1863. The fist page of the letter is written by Isaac.D. Landis of the 9th Calvary. The second page of the letter is written By Gideon Landis, his brother, also of the 9th Pennsylvania Calvary, both to their parents. Isaac's letter reads in part: "....Sorry to hear about Grandmothers sickness but I am afraid her days are about numbered although I hope she might survive at least until this terrible rebellion is over. We have moved our camp since I commenced writing this letter and it rained all day....we have a pretty camp but no shade....The rebs made an attack on us the other day. They came a charging into our pickets and five came right up to the pontoon bridge and undertook to take an officer prisoner when the infantry guards shot three and took the others prisoners. I tell you it was a dear charge for Van Dorn. He intended to take this place that day and the next he was to take Nashville. His men were drunk & he thought there only about three thousand men here and was sure of taking this place but he slipped up on it slightly. I suppose we will stay here a while as I do not think Rosecrans will attack them but wait for them to attack us". On ther verso of the first letter his brother Gideon continues writing "As Isaac had to go out with the forage train I will send this off. Enjoying good health which is the greatest blessing that a soldier can have. We have a great deal of duty to do here. But that has been our lot since we have been in service and is nothing new. Van Dorn made a sorry charge on us the other day. Our loss was 3 killed 3 wounded and 4 taken prisoner (all of the 40th Ohio Infantry). The Rebel loss was heavy. We took 70 prisoners, buryed about 20. But their loss is not knownbut deserters say their loss is over 300....". The 1863 engagement at Franklin was a reconnaissance in force by Confederate cavalry leader Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, coupled with an equally inept response by Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger. Van Dorn advanced northward from Spring Hill, Tennessee, on April 10, making contact with Federal skirmishers just outside Franklin. Van Dorn's attack was so weak that when Granger received a false report that Brentwood to the north was under attack, he believed it and sent most of his cavalry northward thinking that Van Dorn was undertaking a diversion. In May 1863, Van Doran was shot dead at his headquarters at Spring Hill by a doctor who claimed that Van Dorn had carried on an affair with his wife. Est. $300.00-$500.00
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