Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
War-date Union soldier's letter, 2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Robert H. Crist (1829-1912), Co. F, 21st Indiana Vols., [later captain 1st Ind. Hvy. Artillery], Baton Rouge, La., June 22, 1862, in part: "…a squad goes out nearly every day and captures a lot of cattle, or sugar, or cotton. They took 300 bales today and a lot of sheep& cattle last night…Baton Rouge is a very pretty town…of shady trees & houses well built and town well laid out brick paved side walks, streets not paved. People all secesh. Our gunboats shelled the town when they first landed and drove the citizens out…one week after I came here the town still looked deserted but they came back by degrees and the business houses are in operation. The roads are very dusty…there was a vast amount of cotton burned…by the secesh about the time we came…our fleet went up to Vicksburg several days ago…[P. S.] we are camped back in the woods 1 mile from town. Our Col [future Brevet Major General James W. McMillan (1825-1903) got shot in a skirmish 3 shot[s] in the right hand & arm & in the right side. He is getting well…". On June 10th McMillan was wounded as Crist stated at the parish of East Baton Rouge. The ball that entered his right side was never removed and being the ultimate soldier's soldier had his wounds entirely dressed in his headquarter's tent! The original transmittal cover is also included. VG
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