Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
Medal of Honor winner's war-date letter, 6 1/4pp. 4to., 2nd Lt. Wilmon W. Blackmar, Co. H, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, "Hd. Qrs. 2d Brig. 2d Div., Lewisburg, [West Va.]" May 29, 1864, to his mother, in part: "…I will say something…of our raid beginning May 10th. We were then about 35 miles S. W. of Dublin Depot camped at the forks of two roads. Averell generally camps thus, picketing both roads and…making a false start…going a few miles and the taking the other road thus bothering spies who may be watching…on the 9th I recd. a note from Hd. Qrs…[to] start at 5 a. m. 10th with my prisoners towards Dublin Depot. Gen. A. was to give me an hours start and then move off the Wytheville Road and draw the Rebs who might be following him…he expected fighting and wished to be unimpeded, so sent me off with the prisoners to try and catch the infantry under Crook who had fought the day before at Dublin. Just as we reached a narrow defile in the mountain the major comdg. the escort…sent me word his advance had been charged…he wished me to halt until he found what was in our front. I turned the prisoners into the corner of a field and told them to sit down. I…told the guard to shoot the first man who stood up until I gave them permission. The enemy did not stand and we soon moved on…we came to the late battlefield near Dublin…we saw plenty…bloody evidence…we found the Depot and public buildings in flames, the R. R. burning for miles…here we were in a box-right in the heart of the Confederacy with the prisoners nearly dead…gangs of the enemy on all sides…I had already pushed the prisoners nearly 40 miles that day by dividing them into reliefs and letting them ride a little on lame horses, broken down mules and in two or three old Reb wagons…we were all very hungry, the prisoners actually starving…the officers held a consolation. Some were in favor of camping where we were…others urged an immediate advance on the road the infantry took…as we were…where the enemy would be sure to come…my opinion was asked…I advised the Major to halt for two hours…and then push on. This plan was adopted…fires built…I issued to each prisoner a double handful of wheat…they ate like wild beasts…I took my bridle off-fed my horse and then lay down with the bridle on my arm and slept…at 11 I could hardly move the prisoners, they were so dead asleep…part of the escort started off and I followed as fast as the prisoners could go…in the darkness the advance lost me. I felt mightily blue. The roads were obscure and it was dark as pitch. I saw the wagons were hindering us and so I ordered the horses taken out, lame and sick prisoners to be mounted on them and the wagons abandoned…in the darkness missed the road and had to retrace our steps. I was almost sure to be capture…we struck a road on which we could trace evidence of recent march of our troops. Here we determined to wait for day light at all hazards. So we dropped down. I ordered the prisoners to lie down, told them we were tired out and I knew they were also. I ordered the men to sleep in a circle around them…should they see any prisoner rise up to shoot him without word…I slept expecting every moment to have a squad of Rebs charge us, but nothing came except rain and that did not interfere with our sleeping. At daylight I…awoke the other officers…I ordered the Provost Guard, if we were attacked in the rear to hurry up the prisoners and make time, if attacked in front to hold on to the prisoners…if…overwhelmed to close up, let the prisoners go and close up on me for I was determined to…cut our way through…we had not gone far when we came to a negro man's house…there they told us our troops had passed there yesterday and were fording at Pepper's Ford…I pushed cheerfully on and…came to the ford…the infantry were camped…on the other side. I soon had my prisoners over and reported to Genl. Crook. I turned them over to the infantry…we lost no prisoners…I was glad to see my friends again after 2 days absence…Wilmon…". Overall near fine.
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