July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Albinus R. Fell, 6th Ohio Cavalry, WIA on May 9, 1864, during Sheridan’s Raid in Virginia, 2pp. large folio, Luray, Page Valley, Virginia, July 17, 1862, and reads in part: “...I notice in the last paper you sent me an account of that little spree we had at Mt. Jackson. It is tolerable true for a newspaper account...The account also gives Capt. Bowe a puff and to my certain knowledge he was in long gun shot of the fight both he and his men and some of them wheeled and took for the camp as fast as their horses could run. Our surgeon, Northway, was with us he too run his horse back and hollored, retreat, they were too many for us and we would all be killed. He run back to where one of the Rebels lay wounded and some of our boys stopped him after a good deal of coaxing and telling him he should not be hurt. They tried to have him get off and examine the man but no sir, he would not do it he got a stick and tried to roll the man over, but could not do it so he left him and broke for camp full drive and reported the man wounded in the feminal artery and must die. Lieut. Elise (of Co. H) also run and hollored retreat, this threw all most of the men in confusion and still more of them run. Capt. Barrett & Capt. Barber led the way and about 10 of our Co. went in on their nerves and about as many of Capt. Barbers and thus was ended the skirmish at Forestville. I notice a good many are dissatisfied because Fremont had to go up the spout and give as a reason that he should have held his position because he run his Army up the Shenandoah Valley (after Jackson) without anything to eat, and through wet and mud, and when we would get near enough to do anything we would be halted and wait until the enemy got out of the way. Then we would be routed and start after him like hell until we came close enough for the enemy to shell us. Then after we’d played around a while and got a few men killed and several horses they would skedaddle and we would wait a while, bury our dead, and start again and so on until he run us down and it amounted to nothing. And through mismanagement Jackson licked us at Cross Keyes, and whipped Shields, went to Richmond and attacked McClellans right wing and by that means we were defeated and badly licked because our generals did not do their duty here. This is true and I don’t care a damn who knows it. I will give you a description of the position of the armies that should have bagged Jackson’s army. Jackson was in the Shenandoah Valley and mountains on the side so he could not get out only by crossing the Shenandoah River. Shields was in front of him on the other side of the river with orders to burn the bridge when Jackson came up. Fremont was in his rear McDowell & Banks close at hand and could have completely used up the old Devil. But there was no head to boss the job, and each Major Gen. was looking for a chance to raise his own name, and they did not work together. Shield did not burn the bridge. But Jackson did when he got his army over, and this is the reason so many of our poor fellows had to bite the dust at Richmond. To look at the way these Generals work puts me in mind of an old sow and pigs. They root and squale and fight to see which will get top of the heap and hold of the biggest teat. I think in losing Fremont we lost nothing. But the best thing ever happened the army of Ca. if nothing else his ham dutch and French staff was enough to condemn him if we have not got enough Americans to preserve our country let it go to hell. What business has a man commanding white folk that cannot speak a word of English. Blenker has been relieved of his command of those damn Dutch they might do some good but as it has been they are of no use...The prisoner we took the other day says they parole all of our prisoners now, if this true I suppose they parol Cole and the rest of our boys, but I fear if they did they will never get home as the Bushwhackers would undoubtedly kill them before they got far. We have found several bodies in the woods partly covered up with leaves and brush that they had killed no doubt...” More. Very good condition.
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