2024-07 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024
The 2pp. Confederate letter was written by R(obert) L(ewis) Bliss who enlisted as a private at Florence, Mississippi on 24 December 1861 and that he was recruited by Capt. [T. A.] Jones whom he mentions in this letter that was datelined less than a month after his enlistment. He was initially in the 27th Alabama Regiment but that he was captured at Fort Donelson but escaped and rejoined the remnants of other regiments who were organized into the 33rd Mississippi Battalion and later served as an Ordnance Sergeant in various organizations. After fighting in the Battle of Franklin in late 1864, Robert transferred to Forrest’s Cavalry Corps.
Datelined; Danville Landing, January 19, 1862 to his mother. In large part, “A few days ago a runner came in from Paducah with a dispatch sewed up in his bootleg stating that a large force was preparing to march up the rivers Tennessee and Cumberland. Yesterday morning between 3 and 4 o’clock, the alarm was beat and the adjutant came to our tent and cried out, ‘Capt. get up—the devil’s to pay—the Yankees are coming!’ ... Two or three boats came up from Ft. Henry. All the negroes were sent up the river and all the sick were put on two other boats. Just as they were about starting, Capt. Jones ordered me to go with them and to take charge of our trunks and his negro. We left there between 9 and 10 p’clock. Two gunboats had been in sight of Ft. Henry and fired about twenty times. The scouts reported that they were landing in large force twenty miles below. On this boat were about 60 men sick and nurses. Dr. [Edward] McAlexander 1 came up this morning and reported no fight yesterday but that they expected an attack this morning had it not been for a very heavy rain which fell last night and still continues. The enemy had landed 2,200 strong below. Our men had put all their baggage on board the “Smith” and if compelled were ready to be transported to Ft. Henry. They slept on their arms all last night. I am very well with the exception of being half starved. I did not want to come up here but Capt. Jones would not let me off. In a great hurry, — R. L. Bliss.”
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