2009-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009
A good war-date Union officer's letter archive written by Michigan native 1st Lt. Hiland H. Weaver, 3rd Iowa Battery consisting of eleven letters, one partial, totaling approximately 40 pages, concerning his military service in the western theater that is seldom written about, in small part: "…[Camp Union, Sept. 25, 1861]…we have got an order to…march…for St. Louis…the boys are…in a hurry to have a fight…[Camp Heron, Dec. 5, 1861]…we have great times drilling…we have got our guns…[and] are making great progress in drilling…as soon as the rebels find out that the Dubuque Battery is ready for the field there will not be any sesesh in Missouri…[Camp Heron, Dec. 14, 1861 on "Not a star shall fall" patriotic stationery]…there will be a large battle fought near here before long…most of the boys are anxious to have a hand in it…there has been several thousand soldiers through here in the last week. The Iowa 11 and 18 regiment have past here…[Dec. 27, 61 on Washington patriotic stationery]…there is…twenty seven men on the sick list…we have loaded our guns on the cars…we are going to Rolly [Rolla, Misouri?]…about 80 miles from here south west…[n. p., March 14, 1862 on battle of Pea Ridge, eight pages but partial]…the country is all hills… the grass is getting green…it will not come to soon for inhabitants around here where our army has been…it is hard to see the destruction…when an army passes through a country. The houses are torn down for fire wood and the fences are all burnt up…where the hardest of the battle was there was a splendid orchard and the trees were all shot to pieces. There was a large house and barn…and there was not a building…several [had] cannon shots through them. There was a family in the cellar during the two days…the house was filled with dead and wounded…we had to get up and scadadle from Camp Hallack at Cross Hollows…we were enjoying ourselves as well as soldiers could…about nine o'c. at night…the men were in bed when orders came for us to be ready…there was some confusion but we got ready…and we left just in time…[or] we would have been taken…those that showed the white flag in the morning were very much ashamed after the battle…after the battle…our cavalry were running them off. We went into camp on the battlefield…I had a chance to look over the battlefield and…it was too heartrending…there was men with their heads shot off and some shot all to pieces, some [?], some asking for quarters…one of the rebel Lieut. Col. lay on the field with all of his head shot off by a cannon ball. There was…four dead rebels to one of our men…for miles around was filled with dead rebels…it is the hardest thing…to see women and children crying for us not to take the last bit of corn that they have…I cannot see a woman crying and stay around a great while…if our army stays in one place forty eight hours we clean out the country…I this last battle…the Iowa 9 reg. and the Iowa 4 reg and the Iowa 3 reg of cavalry…was very badly cut to pieces…the federal loss in killed wounded and taken will come very near fifteen hundred…[Little Rock, Oct. 16, 1864]…I am tired of running around the country and if Old Abe is reelected…we will have this war brought to a close in less than six months [the war ended almost six months to the day of this letter!]…Old Price is up in Mo. doing his best…we have a large force after him…they will take him…[Little Rock, Oct. 26]…three cheers for Old Abe…[Little Rock, Dec. 11, 1864]…it gives me sad thoughts to know you are in need of money…I never saw a time but once [where] I could not get fifty dollars in our company…I have got forty cents and…tht is far above average…[on rare printed stationery, reading, "Ordnance Office, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, and post of Little Rock, Little Rock, Ark," June 5, 1865]…I am shure the war is over…I have been thinking…of going into the regular service but I have not been before the board yet…Gen. Solomon is President of board…[on rare printed stationery, reading, "Ordnance Office, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, and post of Little Rock, Little Rock, Ark," June 27, 1865]…now about my going with the Regular Service I do not think I shall…there is too many chances for me to be sent where I could not take my family with me…[Willoughby, Iowa, Nov. 3, 1865]…I thought I would write you a few lines so you would know that I am not dead…and shall start for home in the morning…". Overall, VG.
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