Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A great war-date Union officer's battle letter, 4pp. 4to, written by Lieut. William H. Mickle, as an officer on Hooker's staff, "Ordnance Office 20th A. C., In the field, May 9, 1864", to his wife describing the bloody battle of Dug Gap on the Rocky Face Ridge and the position of the army at the opening of the Atlanta campaign, in small part: "…we have been moving for several days…[and] are now a little west…of Dalton & crowding upon the enemy. Yesterday though it was the Holy Sabbath…was a bloody one…we charged their works…[but] did not gain as much as we desired. The 134th [New York] was in the thickest of the fight, charged the summit of a rocky mountain for two or three successive charges, but not being reinforced properly. Did not hold their hard earned position, but fell back a short way until ordered to return to the base of the mountain…several of our friends…fell…Geo. Payne…was killed…he was bravely leading on his company & fell in the thickest of the fight…of two hundred of the 134th…about fifty were lost. Lieut. Ahreets & Smith came out safely though they stood amid showers of lead. I was in the line of battle & though bullets flew around me thick & fast…God saw fit to spare me…we shall move again this P. M…whether the enemy will fight us or retreat I cannot tell. The colonel mentioned [Geo. Payne] to me this morning in very complimentary terms…Geo. would soon have been a 1st Lieut. of colored troops. The position we attacked…where the loss occurred was more formidable than Lookout. The mountain was very steep & rocky & the Rebels were fortified all along the top so that when our line assaulted…it was very strong. The enemy would rise from their entrenchments pour in a volley & then lie down…& reload…while our boys had to scale…an immense height…wait till we get them on equal footing…Genl. Schofield's Corps is on the extreme left of the line, Genl. Howard's (the 4th) next, Genl. Palmer's (14th) in the center, Genl. Hooker's (20th) on his immediate right while Genl. McPherson's (parts of 15th & 16th) with Kilpatrick's cavalry are on the right wing of our line…in all over (100,000) men…woe! To their carcass for we'll keep them flying till they are no more…". 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. Near fine
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