2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
Union soldier's 6 page letter written by Andrew Tuttle who mustered into "D" Co. PA 77th Infantry on 10/14/1861. Datelined Pittsburg Landing May 1st, 1862., to his brother In part, "I suppose you have heard all the particulars about the battle that occurred here long ago, but no one can imagine except those who see it. WHAT AN AWFUL SLAUGHTER IT WAS ON BOTH SIDES FOR A DISTANCE OF FIVE MILES ALONG THE RIVER AND THREE OR FOUR MILES BACK. - THE GROUND WAS ALMOST COVERED WITH DEAD BODIES, SOME WITH THEIR HEADS SHOT OFF AND SOME ALL TORN TO PIECES. - TREES WERE COMPLETELY MOWN DOWN WHERE EVER THE HEAVIEST FIGHTING WAS. I SEE SOME A FOOT AND A HALF THROUGH CUT CLEAN OFF, BROKEN ARTILLERY WAGONS BENT UP, MUSKETS, KNAPSACKS, HAVERSACKS, CANTEENS, AND DEAD HORSES BY HUNDREDS WERE LYING ABOUT IN EVERY DIRECTION. - IN SOME INSTANCES ALL THE HORSES TO A BATTERY WAGON COULD BE SEEN LAYING DEAD, TWISTED UP IN THE HARNESS IN EVERY SHAPE. - Our Regiment reached the Battle ground Monday morning. We could hear the cannonading on Sunday morning at a distance of 35 miles, and it was just one continual roar until dark. - There was only one killed and seven or eight wounded in our Regmt. Two of them belonged to our Company. Ed Cavil was shot through the leg with a musket ball. It is only a flesh wound. The other was a German from Pittsburg who was slightly wounded in the temple. - I see the House Democrat reports only a thousand of our men killed, but you must not believe any such statements as that. ONE OF OUR COMPANY SEEN 1200 ALL IN ONE ROW SIDE BY SIDE. I DON'T DOUBT BUT WHAT THERE WAS AT LEAST 5,000 OF OUR MEN KILLED AND A MUCH GREATER NUMBER OF THE REBELS. - DEAD REBELS COULD BE SEEN LAYING ABOUT TEN DAYS AFTER THE FIGHT. IT WAS SAID 235 WERE BURIED IN ONE GRAVE. LOTS OF THEM WERE BURIED WITH THEIR FEET AND ARMS STICKING OUT, AND I TELL YOU A PERSON WILL GET A VERY UNPLEASANT SMELL IN WALKING OVER THE BATTLE GROUND NOW. - We are now encamped seven miles from Pittsburg Landing and seventeen miles up the Tenn. River from Savanah. We are only 13 miles from Corinth, Miss. I believe the Rebels are intending to make another stand there. - We are under marching orders & expect we will leave here today or tomorrow. We are getting really far down in Dixie; but I suppose they will stick to it until we drive them off into the Gulf. - I wish I might be there and this Cursed War was over. ...."
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