98th Ohio Archive, "the horse I was riding got a bullet through his neck…".

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013

A nice little archive of three war-date pieces related to Captain Joseph R. Mitchell, Co. B, 98th Ohio Vols. [later major and lieutenant colonel] including a battle letter, a manuscript 1862 enlistment roll for his company and a military special order directing him to Ohio in order that he may direct draftees to the army. The letter, 3pp. one 4to. sheet, the other 12mo., Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 25, 1863 concerns a brisk skirmish at Chickamauga Station, reading, in part: "…I am…very tired having…returned from a…rapid march from here almost to Knoxville and return. We left camp on the morning of the 24th of Nov…as a reserve for Sherman's troops was in line of battle until the night of the 25th…when we started in pursuit of the retreating Rebs…on the 26th…we came up to them near Chickamauga Station…and had a severe skirmish…our Regiment had 11 killed and wounded, 2 killed on the field and one died of wounds soon after…our regiment suffered more than any engaged…the horse I was riding got a bullet through his neck…during the thickest of the fight just as I was crossing a deep and rough creek…he floundered around while in the water and then made a stand and all the spurring, jerking & kicking which I gave him failed to move him one inch…the shell and bullets fall thick and fast around me. I was compelled to dismount in the water and almost by force pull him ashore. after getting out on land he went along well enough. After the excitement was over we lay down on the battlefield and remained until daylight…at daylight we…pursued the Rebs as far as Ringold, Geo. when we were ordered to Knoxsville to the relief of Burnside. On…the 28th we started and marched over awful roads for 22 days…Cousin Andrew Dinsmore…has been here but a week…engaged in business with the Sanitary Commission…everything is eaten up around here except Government Rations and pretty near all [of] them…". _The enlistment roll is fairly rare. (This is one of the first we have encountered in many years of auction service.) This manuscript form is made up of two legal size letterset tipped together at the middle and is the actual working copy used during the swearing in ceremony for the men Mitchell recruited for Company B of the 98th. These men were recruited between July 25-Aug. 6, 1862 and each man's actual enlistment date appears in the second column while his age appears in the first. Then each volunteer gives his name, enrollment town and distance to camp while the oath appears at the top of the form. Several of these men became casualties during the war including those who fell at the battles of Chickamauga and Resaca. _The last document, is a 4to., Special Order No. 220, on "Head-Quarters Dept. of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 19, 1863," stationery, in part: "…[Mitchell] will proceed to Ohio for the purpose of making arrangements for the forwarding of drafted men, assigned to the Regiments in this Department…". Minor tape stains affecting letter, else all VG

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