Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
War-date Union soldier Autograph Letter Signed by Captain John Ritter, 49th Indiana Infantry, 4pp. quarto, Camp, Cumberland, Kentucky, February 16, 1862, and reads in part: “...We struck tents early yesterday morning and moved up the Cumberland River to the ford six miles. It was a bad way to move, yet we went at it in good spirits. The snow fell about 4 inches deep night before last. We shook the snow off our tents as best we could, loaded our wagon and was ready to move...Pearson has resigned his position as Sergeant of the Reg. A large majority of the men and officers want me to get his place. I have told them that I would take it, but I do not expect to get it as Kilsey goes by favor and my company will oppose me leaving them. The field officers will also oppose me, that is if they do as they always have done, except Major Thornton & Capt. Gwin. They are my fast friends....We are within 14 miles of Cumblerand Gap where the enemy is in force. If that place is taken, East Tennessee is seceeding. There are Tennesseans coming in by the 10 & 20 making their way through the mountains. Robert Johnson made a speech to our Regiment day before yesterday. The most barbarous, wicked savages that God ever permitted to live...The Rebs beat all....He would tell the name and the place where his friends was hung and by hwom. My heart grew sick as the sisters and women were robbed of all they had to eat or wear. Their shoes and stockings were taken. The children’s shoes were taken in many cases, cut to pieces and thrown away worthless. Bed clothing, in fact everything is being taken for no other crime than being loyal. If there is a just God the way of vengeance is not far ahead. But woe be to the Rebel that falls into the hands of the Tennesseans. Johnson was in prison 6 months. He and two others made their escape and their first free breath that he drew for six months was when he was taken prisoner by the pickets of the 49th Ind. Vol. The true fact has never been told. Men have been hung with the permit of seeing their wives & children when they were in the same town. One man was hung and his son was compelled to sit on the scaffold and witness the scene. Women have been shamefully treated...My prayer is for my country that I love, but will these people ever live in peace?...Col. Mundy’s Cavalry went day before yesterday to the Gap. It was said that the Rebel Cavalry were in the habit of coming down to the Ford where we are now encameped and a trap was laid to catch them. Our infantry was in ambush. Col. Mundy was to go up and get after them and lead them to our Infantry and then take the whole force of the enemy, but they would not follow. He charged on their pickets with ten men, took two prisoners, killed seven, wounded ten that he thinks will die. He went up in the face of the Rebel battery, took eight horses, seven guns, nine sabres. They shot their cannons at him. He shook his fist at them and said he would see them in hell therefore he would leave until he got the horses of the dead Rebels. He caught their horses, cut up their boots and galloped off. Whilst the dust and sand was flying at them being kicked up by the enemy cannons and not a man of ours hurt. A little boy killed one. The Col. killed one. The Col. said that he never hated to do anything so bad as to kill the fellow, but it was to save himself. The Col. had his carbine cocked. He called on the fellow to surrender. He turned and in the act of cocking his gun, the Col. shot him through the head. He found one other one that he took prisoner in the water of a creek. The Col. asked him what he was going to do. Nothing was the reply. They turn the muzzle of your gun from me and come out at this time. One of the infantry men was going to shoot the Rebel. The Col. told him if he shot the man that he would shoot him...” Fine condition.
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