Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
War-date Union soldier's Tullahooma Campaign battle letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Harrison Gibble (Gipple in the CW database), Co. A, 79th Penn. Vols., "Camp near Cumberland Mountain, Tenn., July 17, 1863," to his friend, Henry C. Gringrich, in part: "…there is not much forage in this part of the country. Everything is going to ruin. We had one of the most tedeous marches ever…it commenced to rain when we left Murfreesboro and rained 15 successive days…we was the centre in the march when we heard Gen. McCook shelling the rebels…the third day we got the opportunity to get into front as skirmishers…where the rebels intended to hold us in check…(the place is called Hubers [Hoovers] Gap.) They had 3 hills fortified. We was sent out about 5 o'clock in the morning…Co. A was the right, we went…on towards their fortification, but we found that the balls was coming too sharp and close. We then deployed in single rank along a small hill and laid down. I had a good sized stone before my head to protect myself…three balls hit the stone while I was laying there. We kept up firing till about 11 o'clock (did not fire until we still had an aim to fire at.)…some artilleries went to the right of us and got onto a hill…they could see the whole rebel reserve. They commenced throwing shells into them, dismounted several pieces, that made them skedaddle…we jumped up and yelled and went after them in double quick , fired at them all the time for nearly a mile…[at] a creek…we was ordered to halt…rested for about 2 hours. Then the Col. came and smiled and said, 'you made them run, etc.' He then ordered us back about half a mile…we got 9 wounded out of the regiment. One or two of them died since. We then march slowly and…made Manchester…everything [was] destroyed and looked in a filthy condition. The court house was jammed with rebel prisoners…marched 6 miles towards Tullahoma…all expected to ace a battle…the front commenced to shell the town [in order] to raise old Bragg up, but he got on his heels…and left his provisions and tent & quite a number of new guns…march to Elk river through the mud and…crossed it by a rope. This was a dangerous crossing. It took our division two days to cross, some drowned…10 miles further…we stuck in the mud and got out of rations for 3 days. They had to bring crackers on mules, two boxes to a mule…there is good news from Grant and also of Gen. Meade…if your men can give Lee another good licking it might being this rebellion nearer to a close…we can lick Bragg, but he wont stand and after a while all his men deserted. Our first brigade caught over 200 in a cave on this mountain. They smoked them out…H. Gibble. Direct to Tullahooma, Tenn…".
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