Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Harrison Gibble (Gipple in the CW database), Co. A, 79th Penn. Vols., "Camp Morehead, [Columbia, Tenn.], May 5, 1862." On May 1, 1862, Confederate cavalry raider John Hunt Morgan learned of Union telegraph operators stringing wire near Pulaski, Tenn. He attack the force and captured over 260 men and supplies. An attack by Federal forces to recapture the prisoners drove Morgan from the town and laid it open to plunder by vengeful Yankees. The story of plunder of Pulaski, to his friend, Henry C. Gringrich, reads, in small part: "…I will give you the true history of the capture of our men near Pulaski…by Col. [John Hunt] Morgan's cavalry…10,000 to 12,000 strong. [They captured our Capt. and some twenty men…and some cavalry…of the 7th Pa. regiment. These men were send to make up [take up] the Telegraph wires. Gen. Mitchell had sent…about one hundred teams to this place for provisions…when the teams returned…there was 13 teams…at this place when our men was working and he [Morgan] made a sudden attack on them and surrounded them by the assistance of the citizens of Pulaski and vicinity. Their was about 150 men of Gen. Mitchell's along with the teams that were in the hospitals at different places…these men had no arms with them…when the attack was made…our men…of [the] 7th Pa. [Cav.]…fought them nearly two hours, but at last Morgan and the citizens conquered and took 265 prisoners and 13 teams. Our Capt. was the first taken. We lost 4 men killed and they lost 11 horses and 8 men killed. Some escaped…30 in number. There was six out of our company to fix up [the] telegraph. The Capt. Geo. Carr…Henry E. Krieder (our Henry)…was taken by Morgan…Krieder fought through and run out of reach of them and last night came to our camp…Capt. Hendrick and all the rest…captured [by] (Col. Morgan) left to come back to this place by giving their parole of honor to get an exchange…they will send them the number of their men which we have captured at Fort Donelson…that will settle the matter…5 of our companies and two pieces of artillery and 900 cavalry started for that place to get our men…they told us how they got off and said that they burned the wagons up and harnesses [also]…our men was then only 5 miles from Pulaski so they started on double quick…the 35th Indiana Regiment met them coming from Mt. Pleasant…they surrounded the town…and the cavalry went into town and the artillery gave one salute…on the court house. That brought them out o the street and after the salute our men,,,came in all directions…and [re]captured all our arms and most all the mules and from 4 to 600 of Col. Morgan's men. The citizens left the best way they could and in a few hours their was none in town, but prisoners and negroes…our officers told our men that they shall help themselves for they [rebels] done the same…they took everything…worth taking, broke the house[s] up when they found our arms…the niggers carried store goods home and our men got silk dresses and watches…and ransacked the whole town. They intended to burn the cotton factory…before they leave…this will give the citizens of other towns a warning not to assist in capturing Union men. We have been looking for an attack three days…we expect our men back today with the prisoners. This report I have from the telegraph operator…H. Gibble." 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.