Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
A rare Medal of Honor winner's war-date letter, 4pp. 8vo., 1st Sgt. Wilmon W. Blackmar, Co. K, 15th Penn. (Anderson Troop) Cavalry, "Head Qrs. Escort", Chattanooga, Tenn., Mar. 3, 1864, to his father, in part: "…our Regt. was not recd. as Veterans by the War Deprt. as we were not yet 2 y. old. A dispatch to Col. Palmer says as much…our Regt. has gone to Sequatchie Valley to protect the voters from trouble in the elections…Ferguson a guerrilla chief is expected to attempt interference. The Lieut. Col. is in command. The Col. is off on a 25 days furlough…an event stirred up our camp yesterday…we camped. Here a small farm house stood near with a new well…the house soon disappeared and helped form the "shebangs" in which we live. The well was surrounded by an arbor and fitted up as a "sink" devoted to the especial use of Mrs. Jones. This well was between 20 and 40 ft. deep but constant filling has reduced the depth…about 10 or 20 ft. of filth…some fool…took away the cross pole and Sergt. [Robert M.] Sowersby by going down in the dark-it was very rainy-sat down but there being no pole he turned a back somersault and landed…on his feet at the bottom of the well…a stone dislodged by his fall struck him on the head and cut a gash…weak from the fall…he was for a moment senseless, but fast sinking…horror struck at the terrible death awaiting he made…exertions and extricated himself from the filth and by…using all his climbing skill and strength…succeeded in getting out of the well. The well is not stoned, was wet and slippery…only a miracle saved him from a most revolting death. Bob is no coward as we all know. I have been with him in two terrible places. Once where our majors were both killed at Stone River and once at the terrible Sunday retreat at Chickamauga. In the first his horse was shot, but he stood up and covering 3 Rebs with his revolver made them take down the intervening fence. At Chickamauga he got a man to hold his horse while he went to "get a hop on foot" the route began and a Capt. whose horse was shot took Bob's from the man holding it and we did not see Bob for several days…everyone laughs immoderately at Bob and crack all kinds of jokes at his expense…it was at 2 a. m. and he might have called in vain for help…Wilmon." Near fine.
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