Raynors HCA 2018-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2018
A great war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Artificer Arthur W. Currier, Co. I, 1st Michigan Mechanics and Engineers, Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 25, 1862, in small part: "…yesterday our troops had a fight at Lebanon, Tennessee…there was nothing but ambulances and soldiers passing…all day and all night. All of the sick and wounded that are…able to ride to Louisville are to start this morning…to give room for the wounded…all [the] large size buildings are to be employed…there…will be a large battle here before long…our force here is estimated at 250,000 niggers and…that is what rations are drawn for. Every darkey that is not to work on the fortifications or working…for Uncle Sam are put in jail and half to work pounding stone for the corporation [by] an order from the governor. The citizens begin to feel sort afraid that they are a going to lose their niggers as the day is drawing near for immansipation [Emancipation.] I will tell you what I think about this…it never will be settled by fighting as we have not men enough. The enemy has all the advantage in the world…in Kentucky our army has went through…once and driven…the enemy…through Tennessee, but [at] all of these places they have to leave troops to guard them and in doing it it weakens our army…the further…we drive them the weaker we grow and the enemy keep about as strong…they leave me to, but they claim to be citizens and after dark…they will shoot our men down like dogs. They…sneak around and watch like a cat…if one should happen to be caught he is…put in jail for two or three days. That is the reason we do not get rid of them…the way they should be weaker is to stretch their neck to the first tree…there was one brought in here…as a spy that had…done more mischief than you can imagine. He came in crying like a baby…says he. "I am a citizen and my family does not know whare I be…they will worry about me…it made the officers feel sorry for him so they let him gow…I will bet…if he ever saw them…[he] would shoot them…in a minute…this…the way they fight…it never can be settled by fighting…A. W. Currier…". Near fine.
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