Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Charles Van Wagner, Co. C, 141st New York Vols., Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 15, 1863, in part: "…I have back to the regiment about 3 weeks…we left Bridgeport [Alabama and]…have been on quarter rations until about a week ago. They call the 11th Corps the Cracker Boys…for we opened the road for rations…when we first came here we had no hardtack…little coffee and sugar…but Fighting Joe Hooker runs a small part of this ranch and he is the one who brought out the soft bread for the Potomac boys…he is doing his best for us. We draw full rations…now but meat. The Rebels occupy Lookout Mountain. They are well elevated…they have some heavy guns planted on the highest peak of the mountain and about every 10 minutes they send…shot or shel screaming into our camps but they do little or no damage…but few of them burst. They are deserting like fun most every day. They come in our lines in droves…there was a whole company officers and all came over. They say they can not stand it much longer…all they have to eat is a little roast corn. They have had quite a little fight since we have been down here. Our regiment lost 10 in killed, wounded and missing, but our company did not have to go into it. They was detailed as provost guard at division headquarters. That is what saved our bean. The Rebs lost between 400 and 500. Our side about half as many. We captured between 3 and 400 prisoners and drove them from their position. Lat Wednesday we went out on a foraging expedition. We went about 4 miles down the rail road with about 50 wagons and went into a large field. Company H was detailed to help fill the wagons and Company E to guard them…the rest of us was put out [on] picket…the Rebs came out of the woods , into the corn field a little too strong for our boys an captured two of the wagons…they the wagons] was so heavy that they could not get them away…they cut the mules loose and burnt the wagons. We got away…with the rest of them about 12…at night. We have been busy building a corduroy roads for the last 3 or 4 days…direct to Charles Van Wagner, Co. C, 141st N. Y. V…2d Brig., 3d Div. 11th Corps." Light toning, else VG
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.