Raynors HCA 2018-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/21/2018
A great collection of three (3) war-date Union soldier's letters, totaling 12pp. 4to. & 8vo., written by Corp. Isaac "Ike" S. Moore, Co. C, 103rd Ohio Vols., written during Confederate General John Pegram's raid into Southern Kentucky in an effort to coordinate with Lee's and Morgan's invasion of the North and also to gather horses and provisions for the Southern army. At first, General Samuel P. Carter, the region's department commander, fell back before Pegram's advance, but, in order, to buy time he sent the 103rd Ohio forward to stall the Confederate's advance. For several weeks the regiment held its own until reinforcements arrived. Then combined forces under General Carter combined to help drive Pegram's men back across the Cumberland River. The first letter, 4pp. 4to., "Camp Gillmore, KY., April 13, 1863" to former comrade Pvt. Almon Dewey, Co. D, 103rd who was discharged for disability just months earlier, reading, in part: "…we are all well except J[ames] Peasnell [WIA Atlanta, Ga., 7/28/64]…we have had a march since I wrote…we left Frankfort on the 5 & marched 5 days. We are now at Stanford…we have had a good deal desert us since we started from Frankfort…we are now camped where the Secesh was one week ago. They have fell back to the Cumberland where they was here. They took al the good horses & left their old, run down horses in the place & told the citizens to fat[ten] up & they would be back…after them in the fall. They would go in the houses & take the bed clothes off the beds. The citizens hate them more than rattle snakes. We expect to march to Crab Orchard…to join the brigade then we shall…go to Somerset…we shall…have some skirmishing to do as the rebs are only 9 miles from there. The citizens of Frankfort felt very bad to think we had…to leave. The old Governor [Thomas E. Bramlette] said if we had got to leave he wanted all the other troops to. We had just got an old smashing fort built & then next day we had to leave…we have got as good a regt there is in the field. We have got 500 men left. We was mustered the other day to see how many men it would take to fill up the ranks & found it would take a good many…the lieutenant that we sent…to Lexington…to catch deserters. He has got several with him…it made me rather vexed…that you had shot Diamond…all I have to say…is don't shoot any of them girls…tell Bill to lookout for them awful maids of[?] The girls haunt quite so lenity here as they were at Frankfort although I & my chum [Pvt. Daniel W.] Baker [Co. D] soon got acquainted with a couple of Damned nice ones right near the camp…Old Ike." The second letter, 4pp. 8vo., "Camp near Stigall's Ferry, [near Somerset,] K. Y., May 23, 1863, reads, in part: "…we have been on the march…since the first of April. We are now camped within half a mile of the river…the rebs are camped on the other side. [We] came here night before last…my post was about 2 miles from camp…in the woods I pleased my guards for [the] night. One on each knoll then I took my blanket & lay down when I heard a sharp crack of a musket in the…woods…one of the guards came next hollowing Corporal they are a coming, they a coming. I roused up, but not…much alarmed as [I] knew we had a cavalry picket in advance…getting my gun [I] roused the rest of the boys & got them in line…across the road. By this time there had been several guns fired & we could hear the horses coming…I sent one of the boys in front of us fifteen paces to challenge them…they come up…when the guard halted them & wanted to know who come there. The reply was a friend…one of them dismounted & gave the countersign…they was our own men but the enemy was after them. There [were] about 40 of them & nothing but a corporal to order them. He wanted [to] know what we should do…I told him to go to camp…then I took my 8 men & placed them behind a stonewall…then I took the mounted men & had them form in line just behind the woods…the old Colonel sent word for us to hold our ground, if possible…he would send…help shortly…a squad of men approached…they was reinforcements out of the 2[nd] Tennessee regt. There was a lieutenant with them…he took command & placed a new line of pickets. We heard nothing more of the enemy." Unsigned. The third letter, 4pp. 8vo.,"Camp near Stigall's Ferry, [near Somerset,] K. Y., June 2, 1863, to his brother Albert, in part: "…we are all well & tough as tigers…there has been eight men from a company to go to the river…& put down Pontoon Bridges…we shall get a bight on the other side…we [will] do all right if the curses haunt got too many…I think it is ten to one…we shall follow them into Tennessee. We got orders…to have 3 days rations in our haversacks & 5 days in our knapsacks…we are allowed to carry nothing, but one blanket, one shirt, one pair of socks…we have been out on picket most every day & when we wasn't out on picket we would be detailed to go & drive a squad rebels [who] would cross to gobble up pickets. Their pickets has been on one side of the river & ours on the other ever since we have been here. One morning they learned…they could drive us back…from the river by firing…but they soon found that would not work as our old Enfield's would send the Cold Slugs to far for them so they had to fall back. I staid off…every morning since that there [has] been none or less firing…Dan[iel W.] Baker [Co. C] has gone home on furlough. I suppose about next fall I should get one…send me a couple of Blue woolen shirts…Ike." Minor toning and soiling, some archival tape repairs, else VG.
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