Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A nice war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Sgt. William H. Mickle, Co. H, 134th New York Vol., "Camp near Stafford C. H., [Va.], Feb. 15, 1863", concerning the Emancipation Proclamation, in part: "…There is a great diversity of sentiment in the North in reference to the war & its prosecution. The Democrats are keen against the Emancipation Proclamation & various other movements of the Administration…the great question at issue-whether the Union shall be preserved or not…the darkies that have been hovering over us for two long years becomes more intense & seems to shut out the last ray of Hope…officers of high rank & distinction…are constantly looking upon each other with a jealous aye…McClellan has been superceded three times. Gen'l. Hallack has been too familiar with the President. Burnside has been 'Stuck in the mud' & what Hooker will do, remains for future solution…had we called out a sufficient force at first…Virginia would not have been a 'Golgotha' nor that southwest the scene of carnage to day. The troops of the Grand Division of the Army are very much disheartened on account of …matters…Uncle Sam may as soon hang up his fiddle for the Boys willn't dance…we have been marched and counter marched through these wild regions of the 'Old Dominion'…we did not participate in the 'Slaughter' at Fredericksburg as we arrived one day too late. Neither would the weather allow us to renew the attack a second time…when our next movement will be I can not tell…". Raising to the rank of captain, Mickle served faithfully throughout the remainder of the war, being wounded at Gettysburg, and serving as a staff officer for Generals Howard, Hooker, and Sherman. The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG
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