Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
Union soldier’s letter written by “George W. Ricker” who enlisted on 8/14/1862 into K" Co. PA 124th Infantry. the four page letter is datelined Sandy Hook, Sept. 22, 1862. In part, “I would of wrote long ere this but the enemy invaded Maryland, and we had to leave our quarters and pursue him. ... …on the 17th we over took the enemy near Sharpsburg, Md. where a desperate battle was fought. It was said to be the most hotly contested battle ever fought on this continent or perhaps elsewhere we were engaged. Our gallant Colonel fell in the early part of the battle. He was not killed but severely wounded in the neck, but we pushed on through a cornfield, the bullets whistling in all direction. We did not fire until we came in close quarters when we let them have a volley which made great havoc among them. Our Captain said he thought there was a hundred fell. ...We than advanced a piece further but we were obliged to fall back, as the leaden hail fell thick and fast, it was a providential escape that we came out as safe as we did. ...We where than ordered to help support a battery, but as long as the battery could keep the rebels off we had nothing to do but lay in the woods and watch the shells, and fortunately, the battery kept them off all day. ... Our loss was light to what some was it being 6 killed, 42 wounded and 120 missing. The battlefield was a scene of horror hundreds and hundreds of dead and wounded men lay on the field the most of them Grey backs. Our men being carried off nearly as fast as they fell, I would set the Rebel loss down at about ten thousand and our loss not near so heavy. ... Thursday was occupied in burying the dead and caring for the wounded. The Rebels sent in a flag of truce to bury their dead which was granted but I don’t think they could of buried many of them for the ground was laying thick with their dead. ... When they retreated, we followed them on in hot pursuit as far as the river but they were gone. Mary Jane, I wonder how the brave young men felt when they heard the Grey Backs were coming into Penn. when they nearly turned pale at the sound of that awful word to them drafting ...”
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