Raynor HCA 2014-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2014
A fine war-date Union soldier's letter 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Frank Ashley, Co. H, 64th Ohio, "Camp of the 64 In front of Atlanta, Ga., August 9, 1864." In the end of July 1864, Union cavalry commander General George Stoneman set out on a major raid to disrupt the the Southern railroad lines south of Atlanta. Things went wrong for Stoneman and his command after it was decided to try and free the Union POWs being held at Andersonville and Macon, Georgia. Stoneman and his command was ambushed and mostly captured including the general himself and Myles Keogh, later of 7th Cavalry fame who would be killed at Little Big Horn. The return of the survivors are recorded here, in part: "…send what you please…if you want to send me some whiskey send it along I can take care of it…the cavalry raiders have been coming in for several days…they were 160 miles from here South. They were surpassed and scattered and a large number of them killed and captured, but still they had done a large amount of damage. The [rail] road was destroyed each way from Macon. They had been in the saddle six days and nights and only had 4 hours sleep. I suppose [this] was the reason they were captured. The sound of the muskets did not wake them…those that came were barefooted. They left without putting on their boots….I hear some of the citizens are intending to resist the draft…it would be a hard move for them…a certain man said they could raise fuss enough to draw Grant from Richmond, but they will be sadly mistaken. They will bring war in the North…I have more respect for a traitor in the Southern army…the Copperheads are like snakes in the grass…". VG
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