2021-10 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021
A rare Union soldier's eyewitness letter describing seeing the Northern "Dictator" firing into the beleaguered city of Petersburg, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. James O. Johnson, Co. H, 138th Ohio Vols., "Broadway Landing, Va., June 13, 1864," written to his wife, in part: "-I am still engaged in working in the arsenal. The work is light. The work is light and I get along very well and have the confidence and kindness of the officers under which I work. Yesterday - I thought I would go out to Petersburg and witness the fighting - I stood near the front line of the Grand Army of the Potomac and witnessed for some time the fighting which was entirely an artillery fight with the exception of some sharpshooting which I took good care to keep out of - the shelling was truly grand but - did little execution. Not a man was hurt on our side while I remained. One large mortar [the Dictator] stationed on the railroad was a curiosity - think of a gun 3 feet 7 inches in diameter and carrying a shell weighing 230 lbs. and you have it. Petersburg is strongly fortified and will take hard fighting before we can occupy it. The town could easily burned but that could do us no good as the rebs would still hold the place unless they can be driven from the forts. Our force have taken several rifle pits and one or two forts, but still the work is a heavy one before us noble men - hundreds have fallen some of which are not half buried and are sad spectacles of cruel was. I saw a cap lying on the ground with a bullet hole in it just where it would cover the forehead - in a rifle pit a few paces off and only half buried was the victim of the fatal shot - the picture is sickening - I turn from it with a prayer that this terrible state of things may soon cease. One redeeming sight may be seen on these bloody fields. The Christian Commission - you may see Christian men & women moving like ministering spirits from place to place relieving the wants of the wounded and sick - placing in their hands tracts and religious papers to read - cheering the poor soldier with words of comfort. May God bless their labor of love and hasten the time when the principles of the Gospel of peace be once more established - James O. Johnson." Also included is the origin transmittal cover. Minor spotting, else VG.
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