Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
Federal soldier’s letter written by (Lt.) Charlie (W, Smith) of the 1st Ct. Heavy Artillery, 4pp., pencil, VG. Datelined, 13In. Mortar Battery on Petersburg RR., August 7th, 1864, in part, “Lt. Jackson received orders to take a detachment of 26 men and go to City Point by boat and take command of a 13 inch mortar that was mounted a a platform Rail Road car on the City Point and Petersburg railroad and proceed up the road as far as practical and await for the orders. ... The reason this mortar is on the cars is on account of its grat weight (30,000 pounds) which makes it impossible to transport it with teams. It throws a shell that weighs 200 pounds. ... I was more discouraged than ever on the 30th of last month when General Burnside blew up the Rebel fort in front of him and advanced and took their works and then allowed the rebels to drive him back when he had five men to the rebels one at the last calculation. Yet on account of his n----- troops that run and discouraged his white troops, we was sadly whipped and lost severely. ...” The Dictator, weighing in at 17,120 lbs. was made portable for limited field use during the Seige of Petersburg by being mounted on a railroad car, specially strengthened with extra beams and iron rods to withstand the strain of firing. The mortar was placed on the car and run up the tracks from City Point along the City Point and Petersburg Railroad, to a point in the ravine in rear of what is now generally known as Battery No. 5, near the Jordan House, a side track from the main road being constructed especially for the purpose of moving the Dictator. On July 30, Union forces exploded a mine in Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's IX Corps sector, blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg, Virginia. From that propitious beginning, everything deteriorated rapidly for the Union attackers. Unit after unit charged into and around the crater, where soldiers milled in confusion. Grant considered the assault "the saddest affair I have witnessed in this war."
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