2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Operating in Tennessee and Mississippi Weeks Before The Battle of Lookout Mountain A 4pp. large folio, ink inscribed letter datelined: Iuka, Miss., Oct. 11, 1863 to his father and family, reading, in very small part: “…Uncle Sam has moved us…took cars at 10 eve for Cairo…found 2 of our regt…registered my name at St. Charles Hotel…went onto steamer “Welcome”…twice saw guerrillas on shore, one in quite a force & mounted, but we were not molested as we had 2 guns planted on our bow…found our boys looking like a set of ghosts…not over a third of Co or regt able to do duty…the…Capt. A. was off on a commission of court martial…so [I] had to take charge of the co. We went out on a 2-days scout to Raymond…expecting to find a Reb camp…they had fled…we came upon a picket post & surprised…(2) & took them & horses. Also found several secesh paroled soldiers. Two followed us in…we got back to camp…just able to crawl, cursing secession, Rebs, and everything else that had brot us to so much…hard marching…&…had made us look more like Negroes than white men…went onto boats…our division under Osterhaus…on we went, 13 regts & 3 batteries - got into Memphis on…Monday 28th…on our boat Illinois, we had our regt & 1 1/2 batteries about 200 horses & 150 mules & about 600 men beside Negroes…in getting a caisson off, it [was] upset on [the] levee, exploded the shells - all three chests being full - injured 3 horses, wounded 3 men, one died next day…the pieces of shell, chests, wheels, &c flew in all directions. Some pieces went clear thro the boat…some eyes bunged out a foot…they seemed to be as shy of those 300 wagons as the Indians at Pea Ridge after they attempted to charge & take a battery…to N. & Charleston RR Depot…the soldiers…pile[d] onto the tops…got to Corinth…out foraging this…40 of us went out to guard the train…our cavalry…near Grand Junction…1,000 strong…a Rebel force south of LaGrange & started out to see them…found them…6,000…had a sharp fight & came near getting gobbled up…we are now repairing the RR…to meet the other divis. under Smith…there was a long trestle-work…over a creek…8 miles west of Iuka. The Rebs burned it all down last Jan…we have it most done. We hope to get cars in so as to be in communication with America…before long…lots of mechanics…needed…for these southern roads, bridges, depots…to be built…I went to church…in Iuka…even the niggers said Amen right & loud when the chaplain prayed for success to our arms & the crushing the rebellion…Moscow…is a fine site for a village but shows the ravages of war, fire…plunder - forts right in town…Grand Junct…is a beautiful site but nothing left of it…but is all thrown up into rifle pits, breastworks, & forts…Corinth…is very wet &…very unhealthy & is guarded by Negro soldiers…from C. we began to climb hills…every hill for 5 miles around C. has a fort on it - either built by Beauregard or…Grant & Rosencrans…the Negroes have cultivated some patches of corn & cotton & were picking their cotton as we passed along. All told same story - old massa run Ha Ha; the nigger stay Ho Ho…we got into town…& have pitched our tents right in the female seminary grounds…the…officers of the 9th occupy the 11 rooms on 2nd floor in the seminary. Battery officers & field & staff the boarding house with a family still living in it. This is a new…but few people here - men say nothing or as a general thing are very mum; but the women, esp the young she Rebs, blast it right out. O, I do get so mad sometimes - had as [just] shoot them as not…seems as tho women down here…expect their sex to allow them to say & do as they please & with impunity…when answered according to their own folly [they] have the impudence to call for a guard to protect them from insult…Genl Osterhaus tells them their best guard is to revere the Constitution, obey the laws…J. H.”. Minor toning, else very good.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.