2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
A 8pp. 4to, ink inscribed letter datelined: Bridgeport, Alabama, Dec. 13, 1863 to his father and Lodi friends, reading, in very small part: “…I am still in the land of the living…ending with our first day’s fight near Chattanooga for Lookout Mountain…a sharp fight it was, but as much so of sharp running…a fellow ought to have…wind like a horse to chase…Rebs up such a mountain side over rocks, ledges, trees, ditches & still on…the Rebs could not hold Lookout against all we brot…[on] the 24th fight… we…crossed N. Chattanooga Creek on logs…for the Rebs…burned the bridge. So…our batteries could not advance…an old large cotton gin…came down, its timbers used for…plank…the infantry urged on…the Rebs had planted a battery at the foot of Missionary Ridge near Rossville…a large plantation…owned by Gov…Ross…of the Cherokee Indians & were doing their best to prevent our crossing the creek…soon…we…got over…we formed in 3 lines…our (2nd Brig) deployed to left of the Rebs battery…& then, in two lines to right & left of the battery charged up the sides of Missionary Ridge, driving the Reb advance before us as fast as we could climb…and were soon past the battery…finding themselves out flanked…[they] fled…it was uphill for them as us…they…turned off up a deep ravine running to right of us…we…swung around our left &…came upon…horses & all 4 nice brass guns…the men had fled, all but 14…taking them back thro the gap…we halted to rest a few minutes…[when] coming in from…Ringgold came a cavalier…seeing us…he put spurs to his horse…a cry of Halt was given & more that 20 rifles leveled at him…two…of our Regt…brot him in. He had dispatches for Genl Breckenridge to the very Battery we had take[n] to hold on & fight…they should have reinforcements…this…cavalier was Genl…Breckenridge’s son, a fine looking young man of about 18. When asked where his father was…he replied…very haughty &…insolent…young B was dressed in a full suit of home made butternut color, Genl Osterhaus rides his horse nowadays…orders came from Hooker…in line of battle advanced up this side of the hill…we had hardly got to the top of the hill before an orderly came…saying that 6 regts were advancing…in our direction. So…we all lay down flat on the ground…they [Rebels] engaged our skirmishers who at first fell back, so hot was the fire…the bullets did zip & whistle wildly thru the trees…rising on our knees we poured into them a volley along our whole line & they gave way; & our skirmishers rallied & advanced to a thick heavy wood about 20 rods & held them back till we could reload & come up, when we poured into them & they into us…some force…engaged them on their right flank…rear which caused quite a confusion among their ranks…taking advantage of that, we charged across a ravine…after their retreating…line. But…they rallied, poured into us a galling fire, 3 of our regt killed & 7 wounded but not one flinched and, with a yell, started up the hill pouring into them our shots as best we could…by some means [they] shot over us…[as] we advanced…they brot up to their support…on double quick 5 Regts…the first troops were so cut up & confused they ran right thru the others, who in…turn, fired & followed suit…we charged down upon them for about 2 1/2 miles, when…Genl Corse divis cut off their retreat…they threw down their guns & surrendered…part of 2 Brigades…4 more guns…small arms in great numbers…[&] Bragg’s head quarters…after we had got the prisoners corralled…Genl came to…our Divis line & gave us a little speech & complimented…said he, you have done the work most gallantly, but…you Iowa boys fight too fast…amid cheers…now…closed our 2nd day’s fight, 3 K[illed] 9 wounded…thunder & lightning blows hugely but we have a tent to shelter us so let it flicker…now…the events of Nov 26th…up early…started…on road to Ringgold; found bridges burned - roads awful…going forward…15 miles from C. to…where…the Chickamauga Battle was fought - trees scarred…rested…4 hours…about, daylight came upon the deserted Reb camp, fires still burning, tents piled up, wagons burning…meal & corn emptied into deep mud holes…our skirmishers…every now & then brot in…squads of prisoners…we had over 300 to send back…along the East Side of [Ringgold]…a heavy force [was] drawn up in line of Battle…over Elk Creek…they had burned the bridge…when our troops were crossing this bridge…97th Ohio & our 9th Regts having got over - the Rebs opened on the bridge from a Battery of 6 guns, masked and planted…they crossed the bridge lively…not a man was hurt…soon they turned the battery…on us…one of our Co…was struck by a solid shot on his back, cutting off his rubber & woolen blankets…over his shoulder…& tearing all his clothes off…completely whirling him…over head & laying him lengthwise in the street…he jumped up, yelled out, whirled around several times & fell…But…is not hurt…& has not been able to do a thing since…as our Divis (Osterhaus‚s) got over into town…we sent 1st Brig to right &…our 2nd Brig to left…& ordered us to charge the ridge. 2 Regts were between 4th & 9th…the 4th in advance…[the] 9th supporting them…the 4th charged…&…carried the bluff & [not]…the crest…the Rebs out flanked them & mowed them down…[the] 26th Ohio also…fell back, clear…into the village…& left 4th, 9th and part 26th Iowa & 76th Ohio…to do all the fighting…Well, there we were…the Rebs…concentrate all their forces in our front when Knapp’s Penn. Battery came into town…the Rebs…charge[d]…upon us with a yell…we gave them a steady fire…they went back…as fast as they could scrabble…3 poor fellows rolled down to us…dead as logs. Col. Williamson of 4th Iowa, commanding our Brig, sent to Genl Osterhaus…for support. Genl O….asked…Genl Hooker reinforcements for us…Hooker said Support can’t get to them without being cut all to pieces…Well says Genl O…they will carry it alone, and so we did, but…at a terrible cost to our Regts: the 76th O lost 31 killed & 43 wounded; 4th Iowa - 18 killed & 33 wounded; 9th - 3 killed & 18 wounded -several severely. 26th Iowa lost 20 odd killed [and] wounded….Capt Blanchard was wounded by a grape thru just below the knee, shattering it all to pieces, & had it amputated above the knee…we…drove the Rebs pell mell…as we got to top of Ridge they skedaddled…we started in pursuit…[the] 76th O, 4th Iowa & 26th Iowa came rushing back about the time the others fell back…Our Col ordered them to halt & ordered us to charge bayonets on them & not let a man pass thru our line…near the top of the ridge again… we found 15…dead…we took quite a lot of prisoners…on the 28th & 29th, & 30th we were holding the…roads…towards Dalton…on 1st Dec at…we…marched into Chattanooga… 3rd Dec we were…passing in review before Genls Hunter, Hooker, Thomas, Grant, Granger…we passed…thru town over the…Tenn. River…goodbye. J. H.”. Much, much more content, and one of the best letters this transcribed has ever seen. Minor toning, and spotting, else very good.
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