Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Harrison Gibble (Gipple in the CW database), Co. A, 79th Penn. Vols., "Military Academy Hill, Nashville, Tenn., Aug 16, 1862," to his friend, Henry C. Gringrich, in part: "…I have seen that your neighboring towns has done very well at the last call for soldiers…after we have the 300,000 men in the field we can do the work and don't need to have any of the drafted 300,000…our Col always says don't prepare when the enemy is present…his motto is right. He is not easy to be caught in the sleep…our regiment had no full nights rest…4 or 5 weeks past…we are called out every morning at 3 o'clock…and after day break we generally drill about 2 hours. If not engaged in some other detail such as guarding R. R. trains etc…we are in or near Nashville…our Col. will be the drill master of the new recruits & we will be provost guard of this city…this is a very beautiful town and business is going on briskly again…astonishing to se such a change since…last spring. I can see 100 Union flags floating in town from…where I am writing…the citizens are coming out by hundreds to visit us daily…I am now settng about 2 yards from a mansion [that] our immortal Jackson once occupied. It is a good looking old structure…the 1st squad, 50 in number to Columbia & Huntsville, Tenn. The second squad to Tullahoma & Stevenson, Ala. and the third to Louisville, Ky…some guerrillas has destroyed several bridges again on the road between here and Bowling Green, but the cars can run…on another road…till the road is repaired…last Friday a gang of guerrillas shot in the train going onto Columbia…killed one breaks man and wounded others, another died since…while I was in Columbia the cavalry…brought in 39 prisoners, nearly all bushwhackers. They have a new way of catching them. Our men dress in citizens cloths…have old saddles & bridles, Tenn. style. Then they don't suspect them…the [Cumberland] river is very low, only 11 ft. deep. When we crossed in the spring it was 45 ft deep at the same point. I wish you was here to see the boats and cannons now out of the water which the secesh has run or thrower into the river. There are some monstrous big ones…all spiked…H. Gibble." Light soiling, else VG
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