2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
Union soldier's 4pp letter with original cover, written by William H. Van Iderstine who mustered into "D" Co. NJ 13th Infantry, 8/25/1862. Wounded 7/30/1864 Atlanta, GA (Severe wound in left forearm, amputated). He was discharged for wounds on 1/30/1865 at Newark, NJ. Datelined Camp 13th N. J. Vols. Duck River, Tennessee, January 15, 1864. In part, "It was so cold on New Years Day as to freeze the ink in my pen while I was making out a report for the Adjutant ... A sad affair occurred near Tullahoma (a village about 9 miles south of this place and where we were encamped about two weeks before coming here). Four men and a Lieutenant were caught, their hands tied behind them, and deliberately shot-or rather 3 men shot. The officer ad one man escaped by jumping into the river and swimming across. They were shot at several times and the man wounded. The officer and one man belonged to the 27th Indiana (our Brigade). The War Department has issued an order taxing the citizens living within ten miles of the place to the amount of $10,000 dollars for the support of the families of the men who were shot. After the guerrillas shot them, they threw them in the river. What an act for civilized people. Can God prosper such a people? I should think not. ... I understand that the Colonel has given permission for a house to be built for to hold prayer meetings and church in. We have not had any prayer meetings in a long time in consequence of the cold weather but if we get the house built, we will no doubt have meetings two or three times a week. Oh how I would like once more to attend the prayer meeting held at Halsey St. Church. I can now see better than ever how important are class and prayer meetings to a Christian. Here is some background on the Murders. "GENERAL ORDERS No. 6 Headquarters Army of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, Tenn., January 26th, 1864. ...a wagon which had become detached from a foraging train belonging to the United States was attacked by guerillas, ... The hands of the prisoners were then tied behind them, and they were robbed of everything of value about their persons. They were next drawn up in line about five paces in front of their captors, and one of the latter, who acted as leader, commanded ready, and the whole party immediately fired upon them. One of the prisoners was shot through the head and killed instantly, and three were wounded. Lieutenant Porter was not hit. He immediately ran, was followed and fired upon three times by one of the party, and, finding that he was about to be overtaken, threw himself over a precipice into the river, and, succeeding in getting his hands loose, swam to the opposite side ... For these atrocious, cold-blooded murders, equaling in savage ferocity and everything ever committed by the most barbarous tribes on the continent, committed by the rebel citizens of Tennessee, it is ordered that the property of all citizens living within a circuit of ten miles of the place where these men were captured be assessed each in his due proportion, according to his wealth, to make up a sum of thirty thousand dollars, to be divided among the families who were dependent upon the murdered men for their support. ..."
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