Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
A good war-date Union cavalryman's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Corp. Charles T. Mushgrove, Co. D, 2nd New York Veteran Cavalry, Talladega, Alabama, to his friend John W. Bliss, reading, in part: "…we have been on the march for three months. We left Morganza [La.] and went to New Orleans. We shipped to Fort Pickering in Florida…marched then to Spanish Fort. We took that and Fort Blakely then all the cavalry went…cut and burnt the railroad. We come back to the Tenasas river…there we met the main army…we heard that Gen. Wilson had taken Selma so we turned our course toward Georgia but before we got to it we hurd of the armistice so we turned back to Montgomery…we was detached from our brigade and sent here to fix and guard the railroad. We have been here two weeks…we have been keep scouting every day. We had to got to Huntsville with the peace commissioners. There are a good many guerrillas here, but the folks are very clever [for] a darned good reason…[the] General we are under they are Canby…Smith and Steel. Gen. Lucas commands our brigade. We had long hard marches but not much fighting…you had lots of news but we have been in the woods so long that we hurd nothing…they are getting ready to discharge troops, but I hope they wont discharge us this summer for I never could earn 20 dollars per month any easier…you must excuse my poor writing for I am on picket with nothing but my knee to write on. Plenty of fun. There is a nice family of girls and lots of wenches going by and lots of plums and potatoes to steal. Tell all the girls to keep cool for if I don't tell them more yarns then…we have got a niger to cook for us and take care of our horses…". Unsigned, but from a archive of Mushgrove family letters. Mushgrove was discharged at Talladega in November, 1865, and apparently reenlisted in the U. S. Cavalry since research shows that he was promoted sergeant in the Regular Army during the Indian Wars in 1876. The original transmittal cover is included. Minor soiling, else VG
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.