Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
War-date Confederate cavalry officer's counter-Yankee cavalry raid letter, 6pp. 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. about 20 mile south of Petersburg", July 3, 1864, to his mother & sisters, in part: "…we have been resting…& watching the movements of the enemy whose cavalry have been so badly whipped by us as to compel him to send infantry to their support. Our scouts… report the enemy to have moved their forces back toward Petersburg during the past night & we now have no enemy near us…we will go back in direction of Petersburg…we have completely broaken up [James H.] Wilson's Cavalry consisting of over 5000 captured, about half of them, including officers about 1500 horses, saddles & bridles etc. All his artillery & wagons etc, etc. But for the failure of one of our brigades to execute an order…we would have captured Wilson himself & his entire command…completely whipped the whole Yankee Cavalry in Virginia that they are afraid to give us battle again and we have freed the country from the most dangerous portion of the Yankee army for if their cavalry were allowed to continue their raids as they have been doing. Genl. Lee would soon be starved out for want of supplies & our cause would trail in the dust. All the Rail Roads between Richmond and the south have [been] by them…it will require from 30 to 60 days to reopen them…there are constantly rumors flying…you may relay however on one thing…we are whipping the Yankees…Petersburg is pretty much in the same fix that Charleston is. The enemy are constantly shelling it, but do not destroy much…they hold positions below the city so strong that they cannot be dislodged. It is said that Grant says if he does not take Richmond by…the 4th of July, he will give up & let the war end. God grant that he will do so for he cant take Richmond & never will if we can only keep our Rail Roads open south…I capture more than myself & [slave] boy [Simon] can carry. I am completely fitted up & so is Simon with horses, saddles, bridles, blankets, etc of the best kind, all captured from the Yanks. I want to send some of my trophies home…I am the only captain excepting one for duty with the Regt now…I prefer Virginia to the coast of So. Ca…I feel that I am doing something for my country here…our preachers have long since broken down & are back in the reserve camp with the sick & disabled…they…[are] always the first to fall behind when danger threatens…I trust that I may…in the future…change my opinion of them…we have no regular chaplain in our Regt nor in our Brigade…I wish to know what has been done about our keeping [slave] little Sue. Has Eliza or any of you written to Pat & Margaret on the subject?…I wish they would let us keep her as our own child & raise her…I am unwilling to take her unless her parents will enter into a written agreement…Alfred B. Mulligan." Light soiling, else VG
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