Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
War-date Confederate cavalry officer's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Capt. Alfred B. Mulligan, [WIA Burgess' Mill, Va., Oct. 27, 64], Co. B, 5th South Carolina Cavalry, "Stoney Creek Depot Petersburg & Weldon R. R. 20 mile south of Petersburg", June 28, 1864, to his mother & sisters, in part: "…the Rail Road between this & Petersburg is destroyed. Genl. Hampton & his command left the south side of the James River on Sunday…& came south for the purpose of whipping the Yankee raiders who have been destroying railroads etc between Petersburg & Weldon…there is no letting [up] for we keep constantly in the saddle & "pitch into" the Yankee cavalry wherever we find them. On Friday, 24th inst we fought Sheridan some 25 mile below Richmond…near Charles City C. H. Whipped him & drove him full well for over five mile to his gunboats & forts on the James River. Our loss was miraculously small considering the extent of the engagement. We only lost one killed from our brigade & about 10 or 12 wounded. The enemy lost about 300 killed, wounded & prisoners & we brought off sixty odd of the later including several officers from Col. down. [Col. Pennock Huey, 8th Penn. Cavalry was one.] Today is quiet…we get coffee & sugar regularly…we get the coffee green &…have it to parch. I get some lady to grind it…& when not I crack it between two rocks. I am laying down on the bank of Stoney Creek…Simon has just finished washing my under clothing…& have them hung out on the bushes to dry…I am…enjoying a very agreeable exemption from the great nuisance which is every where found beyond & around Richmond. In a months march the eye is never relieved from the obnoxious sight of dead horses & sometimes men & the smell is awful. Sheridan left at least one dead horse for every fifty yards of [on] his march from Grant's army on the Chickahominy to Louisa County & back. His plan was to shoot every horse as soon as it broak down. We are here awaiting another party of Yankee Cavalry about 5,000. We will be apt to capture or routed them. Our boys fight like tigers. The Yankees fear the fire eaters from South Carolina, as they call us…I regret to say that Wm. Kean, the brother of Miss. Kean at Gainesville, was captured while on picket on the Chickahominy about four weeks ago. The Yankees treat our soldiers remarkably well of late & we do their soldiers when we capture them…remember [me] to the servants alway. Say how they all are…A. B. Mulligan." Minor spotting, else VG
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