2021-10 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021
Union soldier's war-date battle/Chattanooga campaign letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Marcus Walker, Co. E, 141st New York Vols., "Camp near Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 18, 1863," to his parents, reading in part: "-since I last wrote we have seen some of the hardest times that the 141st ever had - our operations commenced with the Battle of Nov. 23rd - we left camp Sunday and went to Chattanooga - at 2 o'clock the fight commenced. Our Corps or rather part of it was held in reserve and had to run from one place to another - Wednesday we went clear to the left of the line and held a position in front until Thursday morning. Then we started in pursuit of the flying Rebs (for - they left Wednesday night) and was inn such a hurry that they could not take all their things - they thrower away or left their guns, ammunition, wagons, supplies - they burnt lots of stuff and would have done more if they had time. In some placed they did not take down their tents. We followed them 2 days taking lots of stuff and prisoners then made a halt and held a gap until the 29th - we started for Knoxville to help Burnside clean out old Longstreet but - he skedaddled and so we turned around and came back making a march of over 200 miles - we had to forage our living - we lived damned poor some of the time - we could not buy anything to eat only once in a while and then it would be nothing but flour and water mixed & baked into small biscuits and sell [sold] for 50 cents per dozen - worst of all was some of the boys clothing gave out and a most all of their shoes - it was pretty cold weather some of the time. I saw a few entirely barefooted marching upon frozen ground - I called it rather tuff - we went to within 15 miles of Knoxville - I stood it first rate on the march. I got a bad cold once and came very near nocking under but finally got over it - the sight of the army going into battle is one of the grandest things I ever beheld. I wish you could have seen it - it would pay you to come down to Washington sometime and see the Army of the Potomac - Mark Walker." Light toning, else near fine.
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