64th Ohio Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia Letter

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2014

A great war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 4pp. 8vo., Pvt. Frank Ashley, Co. H, 64th Ohio Vols., "Battle ground near Resaca, Geo., May 15, 1864", in part: "…this makes 12 days since we started. We have had several skirmishes within that time [and] have drove the rebs 18 miles. The first place that we fought them was at Rocky Face Ridge [it was] one of the hardest places I ever saw…we lost a good many men…in one charge our Regt lost 75 men in killed, wounded & prisoners. In our Co. there were 5 wounded & 4 killed. The rebs got one but he was mortally wounded. The rebs left him. We found him at a citizens house in the Valley but his hours were few when I found him [and] could not do anything for him. His name is Eli Whitley. [He is buried in Chattanooga National Cemetery, Grave K-378.] His folks live near Dekalb. A. T. Solomon, James McConnell, Jacob Waider were killed and Green, John Hahn, Jacob Bloom, Sam May…were wounded…and at the time that I am writing the battle is raging fiercely. There has been hard fighting since yesterday noon. Our Regt was in about 3 hours, one man killed and 8 wounded, drove the rebs about 1 1/2 miles…they are in a place where they have to fight…they lay between us and a river and McPherson crossed ahead of them and burned the bridge and holds them in check. We have a large army here…I cannot tell you my feelings at the present…we also have glorious news from the Potomac Army…the 45 Ohio is here…our Colonel [Alexander McIlvain] was killed [May 9 during the battle of Rocky Face Ridge] on the ridge, it was done in a charge on their breastworks. It was all done in a few minutes and gained nothing by it…Dalton, Ga., May 18, 1864…we have been driving rebs right along. We are 40 miles of Atlanta. We had 2 killed and 7 wounded in the regt at Resaca. Had a sharp skirmish last night with them, but all is clear now…". The 64th Ohio lost heavily during the battle of Rocky Face Ridge suffering 21 killed, 65 wounded and two missing. It would be one of their most costly battles! VG

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