Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A nice war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. William W. Fish, Co. C, 11th New Hampshire Vols., on "Onward To Richmond" patriotic stationery, "Knoxville, Tenn. Dec. 5, 1863", in small part: "…the enemy have been besieging Knoxville for more than three weeks. On the 16th we were aroused by the 'long roll' at 5 am…we were marched into town since which…we have been under arms picketing and skirmishing…we passed through the dangers and hardships of the past 19 days in safety. We heard of the fighting below here between Loudin and here and of Burnside's retreat…we have been fighting Longstreet's corps. Doubtless you have heard…we had surrendered, but Burny is still at the top of the heap. Longstreet sent in a demand…for him to surrender but Burnside would not. Longstreet's men came up on the 17th after skirmishing…we commenced fortifying strongly. Knoxville is strongly fortified…we threw up long lines of breastworks and placed batteries in position so we had them as they had us at Fredericksburg. We had a very strong position…they pretended to say they could starve us out…our brigade was supporting batteries and detailed were made every day for picket…each one of us was on duty…all the time day and night…either skirmishing in the rifle its or posted as sharpshooters in the brick depot and round house…the enemy made repeated attempts to break our lines and succeeded in getting part of our picket lines twice but were charged out. On Sunday the 29th in the morning they charged on our works on the left of Fort Sanders, but were repulsed with great loss. The enemy estimated their own loss at 1200 killed wounded and missing. Our loss was small…Benjamin poured the grape and canister into their ranks, slaying them awfully. The charge was made in the midnight by some of Longstreet's picked troops. I was on picket at the time. The rebus also charged part of our brigade out of their pits but we charged them out in the morning. The 21st and 35th Mass. charged and our regiment supported them. That day the rebus sent in a flag of truce…to buy their dead. The ground was strewn with the dead and wounded. Longstreet…made a speech to his men…he told them they should take dinner in Knoxville…informing them that the 9th Corps was not in the place but they found out different. During the armistice we met the Rebel pickets half way and shook hands, traded, joked together, caught chickens together and bid each other good bye. How strange it is after blazing away at each other…we had…the same ones that we met at Fredericksburg…the enemy have been leaving for the past three days…last night they built a great many fires to blind our eyes and this morning they were gone. Our brigade was ordered out. We went out five miles with out meeting them and came back. We picked up some prisoners. They were a hard looking set many without shoes…some with rags tied to their feet…". VG
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