Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A good war-date Union officer's battle letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Capt. Charles H. Deane, 86th Illinois [asst. quartermaster 14th Army Corps], on "Office, Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. A." stationery, "near Atlanta, Ga., July 27, 1864", to his half sister Emily A. Gates, in part: "…I should very much like to be in Peoria tomorrow to participate in the reception of the 8th and 47th but it must not be…tomorrow we are to attempt to take Atlanta by assault from the west…the 15th, 16th & 17th Corps are moving from the left to assist in the movement which…will cost many valuable lives and if we are repulsed it will…cost many thousands. Our brigade has lost fearfully on this campaign-fully one half of the men we marched from Gordon's Mills…on the 2nd of May…are either in their graves or lying mamboed and suffering…our six regiments now only number 1653 fighting men. The same Regts left home…with near one thousand men each…the Rebels are shelling us and have just sent one over us to the right and another to the left…our brigade has lost over one thousand men during this campaign…there is no telling when this campaign will close…my army friends say that I shall not leave the army at all…the president has called for 500,00 more men and expect that Jiriah and George will be home and discharged in time to go out again under that call…three years in the ranks should entitle one to rank in case of reenlisting…the first division of our Corps are having some heavy skirmishing now preparatory to advancing their lines…I use a captured envelope…". Also included is the original stamped "Rebel" transmittal cover....plus, Second, is a 3pp. 4to., letter by Charles, "Head Quarters, 1st Brigade, 7th Division, Right Wing, 14th Army Corps, Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 23, 1862", in part: "…I am now acting as Brigade Quartermaster…as the brevet rank of captain…I have opened a brigade work shop and have nine blacksmiths, five carpenters & wagon makers, one harness maker…we do all our own repairing within the brigade. There is also a pair of [?] in the shop which I have…had put in…for grinding corn…Frances writes me that [Benjamin] Jiriah's [Gates, 47th Illinois] arm still continues quite painful. I don't think he had better report to his Regt…" (2 letters and one cover).
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