Rare Battle Letter On Union Defeat at Ponchatoula, La, Sept. 15, 1862

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written ink by Pvt. Elmore Dane, Co. F, 26th Massachusetts Infantry, New Orleans, September 16, 1862 concerning the battle of Ponchatoula, La which occurred on Sept. 14-15, 1862, and reads in part: "...I am tired after our forced march of 11 miles…and fighting a battle. Out of 125 men 40 were killed, wounded and missing, almost 50 percent of our number. We were kept as a reserved corps, and came up just in time to save the rest of the party from all being taken prisoners. We kept the enemy from out flanking them and covered their retreat. The fight took place at Paschola [Ponchatoula, La.] We went up the Maunshag river to the Jackson and New Orleans railroad and marched up the road. It was a bad defeat for us we had no artillery and the rebels were 1500 strong with 5 pieces of artillery. We were obliged to leave our dead on the field and the wounded in the hospital with the Doct. and assistants as prisoners in the Rebels hands as prisoners it was a hard jaunt and well nigh cost us all imprisonment...many more die of sickness then of bullets from the enemy...". VG.

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