53rd Ohio Officer Writes of Fighting Before Atlanta

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005

Autograph Letter Signed, “R. A. Fulton” Lt. Col 53rd Ohio Infantry, 3p. quarto, pencil & ink, Camp near Atlanta, Georgia, August 2, 1864, with cover, it reads in part: “...I have been in two hard fought battles here since...the 22d and 28th days of July near here...I was with a small foce in front of the Army and was driven in by superior numbers but after rejoining the main part of our Division we fought and maintained our ground and gained a victory. On the 22d the 53rd and 111 Ills were ordered to support the line of skirmishers who were ordered to reconnitor the position of the enemy...our Regiments followed in line of battle and opened fire upon these rifle pits between us and the works above mentioned, they fled and we followed...we followed them to the very suburbs of Atlanta with the skirmishers but halted the Regts at the top of a hill overlooking the town suspecting that they intended to entice us within the range of their heavy batteries...with my field glass I could see their fortifications lined with men, we ordered a section of artillery (two guns) which we had with us into position and commenced throwing up fortifications to defend our position...we heard heavy firing on our left and rear and found that a terrible battle was raging there and we had orders to open fire with artillery upon the town and to hold ourselves in readiness...our Pickets reported the enemy advancing on us and very shortly after the Regt on our left came rushing by us in haste with the enemy at their heels and the battery having started back we recd orders to retire...I got safely back to our position by a direct route but the enemy got very close to us before getting in and fired a volley the balls flying all around me. I was very made afraid that they would turn our right before the men could get into position as there is nothing a soldier so much fears as a fire in flank or rear...” More. VG.

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