Raynors HCA 2017-12
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2017
War-date Union Chaplain's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Chaplain John P. Pell, 12th Kentucky Cavalry, "Camp in the field near Kingston, Tenn., May 6, 1864", in his family, in part: …we are agin in E. Tenn 40 miles N. west of Knoxville…at the mouth of the Clinch river…we are about 15 miles due north of Philadelphia where we had our things captured last October…I and Josephus are both well…when I got to Camp Nelson…our men had been gone two days…I stayed all night with the Sanitary agent there and turned over to him all my sanitary stores and took his receipt for same…started Sunday after morning service with 1 bushel of horsefeed, 2 Ibs crackers, 1/2 Ibs coffee…all packed on Charley. Traveled though Camp Dick Robinson…to Stanford…stayed all night at [a] tavern. Paid $2 saving my provisions for the mountains…I traveled through Summerset…onto Point Burnsides a Military post in the forks of Cumberland river…here I found my regiment was still one day ahead having left that morning…stayed all night in camp with some laborers who were working for the government who kindly furnished me with a place in their tent and a bunk. Next morning I started…into the mountains and pressed my way sometimes walking to relieve my horse who was very loaded & wearying. I stopped that night 14 miles behind my regt after traveling 41 miles in the rain most of the time. At a Mr. Funks [?] is a small cabin. His house was full of refugees & movers but they let me stay although they had to all sleep in one room…I slept in a pile with the rest…got up…traveled 6 miles…and made coffee at a house & ate cheese & crackers …pouched on over a wilderness country…I made some coffee and took out my 6 butter crackers, my last bread & no meat. I divided the crackers with a hungry soldier who had been with me part of the day…Genl. [George] Stoneman was at this river resting with his escort but I pressed on over hills and along high mountain ridges till evening…stoped at a nice farm house, Mrs. Staples who gave us supper…this was a great relief to me. She was quite a layoff good education & well raised. Had [a] fine library which surprised me in this dreary country…her husband who was well educated & wealthy had been murdered by the guerrillas more than a year ago in an inhumane manner…after supper I started…hopping to get up with the Regt…I stopd at the first house where anyone lived (for there [are] many where no one lives)…here I fed my last to my horse…at Montgomery…found them [the regiment] just ready to start but no ration or horse feed…came to Kingston yesterday 35 miles ferrying the Clynch river once. Today we came over the Tennessee and are half mile out in camp with plenty to eat…I am messing with the doctors…we are destined for Dalton, Georgia…there will [be] a collision soon as everything is moving in that direction. Up to this time we have been in the front of the march…we will stay here till our force gets up…J. P. Pell." VG
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