Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
A rare ca. 1864, 1st Michigan Engineer's and Mechanics oblong broadside style song sheet, printed in field by Pvt. Charles K. Brewer of Company G, measuring approximately 14" x 6 3/4, consisting of three individual poems including: "STONE RIVER BATTLE FIELD," reading in part: "Tread lightly o'er the graves where sleep the brave heroes who died in defense of our country and its laws…and laid down their lives for the good of the cause. The foe charged upon us with three times our numbers…the cannons did roar…for five long, weary days the battle was raging…he gazed on Garesche, saying, brave men here die…one hundred cannon shook Nature's foundations and covered the ground with their wounded and slain…a sigh for the wounded, a tear for the slain…three cheers for brave Rosy; the Cumberland Army is now ready again, and will drive traitorous foes from our noble country." "THE WOUNDED BOY, ON STONE RIVER," reading, in part: "Oh, mother dear, I'm wounded…I'm dying now!…it chills my blood stained brow. The ran defends in torrents…my companions dead and dying, are lying all around…I feel as if alone. The storm of battle over, the foe have left and gone…mother dear grieve not for me, my duty I have done; my country's call I honored, a soldier's risk did run…I bid the world adieu…and in my dying moments, I see…father, mother, sister dear…I well remember…kind and true…I diem, I die, adieu! Sleep on in peace, brave boy…thy warfare is over…thy blood calls for vengeance , its voice we will obey…". "MY COUNTRY," reading, in part: "My country, oh, my country! when will thy war be o'er? God grant peace may soon return…father, husband, son and brother, by carnage are laid low. Go gaze on the battle field…view the blood your folly's spilled, shed by a brother's hand…God in his great wisdom, will lay the blame on you. and you, ye Southern traitors, ye gave the first offense…which did commence the war. The North was slow to anger…she will maintain he Union and make secession yield…you vile Northern copperhead, you worse than rebels are; you prolong this bloody war by making discord…you shout…tyranny to every act that hurts the rebel cause…my country, oh, how changed thou art…where brother strives with brother to take each other's life." Forty-one year old Brewer enlisted to save the Union and served for three years in the 1st Michigan Engineers as an artificer. He was present during Sherman's epic Atlanta campaign after which he penned these patriotic poems that where printed in broadside form. Folds, else VG to near fine.
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