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. 8vo, written by Lieut. William H. Mickle, as an officer on Hooker's staff, "Allatoona Mountains, Geo., June 2, 1864", to his wife mentioning the heavy fighting occurring at Allatoona and New Hope Church, in part: "…we have been fighting…every day since I wrote you with but little ground gained on either side except loss of men which has been much more serious to the enemy than to us as they attacked us in our works…we have been campaigning for a whole month…Genl. Hooker is safe & well, but I consider it almost a miracle that preserved him as he is always in the hottest of the battle. He goes by the name of 'Fighting Joe' all through this army & is almost worshipped by his men. We have heard from the Potomac…the last news was favorable & glorious…we will flank Johnston's army out of their miserable mountains & then whip them on the open fields. If we don't succeed in capturing their entire army we will hinder them from reinforcing Lee…thus giving Grant a better opportunity for accomplishing his plans there. Should we succeed even in that it would repay us for the sacrifice. June 4…you will perceive by the present date that two days have passed…I was called away very suddenly to another part of the battle field & opened a battery on the enemy doing good execution. Yesterday we moved a little farther to our left & are slowly extending our left flank around the enemy's right. It is quite showery and muddy…may Richmond speedily fall from its vomited and Rebellious height…& [from] the dark deeds of Slavery…while we are on the march…the country has a good stock of poultry, pigs, sheep…& we are ordered to live as much as possible ion the country. As it is raining to day…we are doing much…(Ah! The booming cannon warns me that a fight is in progress & we may soon rush to the other part of the field, but God will care for us)…". Little did Mickle realize that as the booming of the cannon echoed, Johnston, hoping to take advantage of the rain, was opening the bloody battle of New Hope Church. Also included is the original stamped transmittal envelope. Raising to the rank of captain, Mickle served faithfully throughout the remainder of the war, was wounded at Gettysburg, and serving as a staff officer for Generals Howard, Hooker, and Sherman. Near fine
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