Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A great war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 16pp. 8vo., written on "Union and Constitution" patriotic stationery by Pvt. Thomas M. Dunlap, Co. G, 9th Penn. Reserve Infantry (38th Penn. Vols.), "Camp Pierpont, Allegheny City, Dec. 21, 1861" to his parents concerning the epic battle of Dranesville, Virginia, in very small part: "…we started…on Friday morning…on a foraging expedition…taking the Leesburg Pike…until we got within…2 1/2 miles of Dranesville…the 6th & 12th Regts…stayed with the wagons while our half…moved forward to the town 9th, 10th and First Penn…Bucktails we had also…4 large guns…the 9th was ordered to take the road…leading…to the left…to come up in the back of the town. The Bucktails were ordered to…the right while the cavalry were to take the road straight into town…the artillery were to take a stand on a hill…supported by the 10th…the 9th gained her old position…the Buck Tails brought up the right…the artillery…pointed at a small body of cavalry…we heard a volley back in the woods…which proved to be our…skirmishers…the Pittsburg Rifles…one [told]…Genl. Ord…that about 4,000 Rebels were after them…the Genl. ordered the artillery back…the Rebel battery of six large guns…soon opened…the Buck Tails were ordered to the…to out flank them…we took back double quick and rushed into the woods…a volley was fired…from a South Carolina Regt…we opened a terrible fire upon them…the engagement now became general…a terrible volley…wounded a great many of the 9th…one of our guns…[fire a] ball…that went into the bore of one of their guns and exploded…another shot was fired at their magazine…it blowed up killing six horses and 3 or 4 men…I was at work all the time loading and firing…not one in our company was killed or wounded…the Capt would give orders to fall & load…Capt. Galloway…was wounded in the leg…three of the 9th were shot dead and a few mortally wounded. There were 5 regiments of South Carolinians, Kentuckians, Alabamians and some Tenneeseean. The[y] fought very well…the 9th & Buck tails…whipped them out of their [?]…Col. Kane of the Buck Tails was shot in the mouth…he…kept command of his Regt…the woods…produced a most horrible spectacle. The ground was covered with the dead and dying Secessionists. 45 or 50 of the Regt we fought lay dead…the bullets whizzed around us at an awful rate…a bullet broke his bayonet off…another one…when falling [had] a bullet…through the collar of his overcoat…the old major's horse was shot from under him. ^ of the Buck Tails were shot dead…about 200 of the enemy were killed and wounded…the sight that met our eyes was most horrible…dead men laying scattered over the ground…one man…in the agony of death was pleading with god…the wounded said they did not want to fight…some would not speak…one man had his leg shot almost off he said…he would come back and have his other leg shot off. Some…had their heads shot half off…they were dressed in grey. We took about 20 live prisoners. One…standing by his brother…stooped down and whispered something in his…ear and then kissed him and…gave himself up…when fighting one forgets everything but load and fire…the enemy left a great many guns and blankets…one of our company died in the hospital…his name was James Nicholson…we marched from Dranesville…". Much more detailed content! Also included is an American flag lapel ribbon pinned to a card with a great inscription, in part: "Worn by Thos. M. Dunlap on the night of April 27th 1898…a hot time in the old town tonight…". Both VG.
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