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, "Office of Chief Commissary, 20th Army Corps" stationery, "June 18, 1864", to his wife outlining the recent battles and his thrill at killing off the enemy, in part: "…we have had three days severe fighting [having] driven the enemy about five miles and done them much injury, our Corps as usual had the charging to do [and] consequently lost more than any other. Yesterday we pursued the Rebs about two miles & Maj. Reynolds & I had a fine opportunity of using artillery. It was a pleasing excitement to see our batteries knock the Reb batteries out of position & scatter their cavalry in great confusion. I felt like yelling with delight. About 3 P. M. we advanced Wheeler's battery till within about 350 yds. Of two of the Rebs batteries & he knocked them to pieces in a short time. It was perfectly splendid. I was so full of the excitement…that I was awake for hours…thinking it over & enjoying the result…it is raining fearfully to day & I fear we can't advance as we intended…we killed the Rebel Genl Polk with one of our batteries as he Johnston & Hardee were reconnoitering our position from Pine Mountain. Genl Grant is doing finely…the Rebs are much more fearful of Hooker & his troops than any of the rest of the army…most of the 134th [N. Y. V.] are safe [but a few were lost in the late engagements. Geo. Judd was hit by a piece of shell on the month which tore his lips & chin a little, but he has gone back to the Regt…to kill a Rebel in retaliation…sometime you will hear that I have been wounded or killed but never put confidence in it till you hear correctly…we are gradually pushing Johnston around toward Atlanta…we hope to pin him to the wall & hear that Richmond has fallen, Lee's army annihilated & the Rebellion crushed. Three cheers for 'Old Abe' & the Union!!!…". 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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