Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Robert H. Crist (1829-1912), Co. F, 21st Indiana Vols., [later captain 1st Ind. Hvy. Artillery], Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 2, 1862, in part: "…the whole brigade is stationed here…I have a list I will tell you…'we' are [Given here is a complete list of the regiments stationed in Baton Rouge.]…Nims Boston battery is said to be the 2nd best in the U. S. Many of the men were up at Vicksburg. many of the troops died while they were up there…and many of them have died since they came here and many more look as though. they had better go to the undertakers and have their measurements taken. They go crawling about the streets and camps. They (we) are a poor recommend to the health of the North. If Yellow Fever comes here there wont be enough…for a picket guard…for a Regt…we have very few deaths. We have moved back to our old camp ground 1 mile from the River…our fleet and brigade left Vicksburg because they backed a land force to take it. They dug a canal but commenced too late. The water fell as fast as they could dig…they fired a great many shot into Vicksburg and…spoiled a great deal of plastering. It is curious to see the track a ball makes amongst brick buildings. It knocks out a hole you could put a flour barrel through…there is little danger of Secesh…Genl. [Thomas] Williams is drilling the troops rather hard for the good of their health. The Genl. is not respected by either the troops or officers. He is an old specimen of humanity and a great many odd notions about fighting…he will be long remembered to be hated by the 2d Brigade…[Aug. 9]…there may be a difference of some time…of this letter as there was no mail leaving…on the 5th we were surprised by a visit from Vicksburg of some 7 or 8000 troops…of an enemy. They came to our lines about 3 1/2 or 4 o'clock. Our troops were called out and met them at great disadvantage. They fought for about 1 1/2 hour. The 21st Ind and the 6th Mich had all the fighting to do. They each fought 3 Reb Regts apiece and the 14th Maine fired 2 or 3 volleys into the 7th [Vermont] and retired. Nim's Battery, Everet's Battery and Browns Battery were supported by 21st and 6th. Brown's guns are captured, manned by men from the 21st. The 21st ran out of ammunition and held their position at a charge bayonet and the 6th Mich came in and protected them…each army retired at once. our troops fell back about 1/2 mile procured more ammunition & formed a line…the Rens under Genl Breckinridge fell back a mile or so…most fighting were done bear & in the Ind. camp. They drove our 21st back of our camp…they come to our camp and burned quite a number of tents …I was not able to go out with a gun but I loaded one and got ready with the camp guard till the bullets and shells came too thick to be amusing…I looked around and found the guard had all left and lines of me and Federal skirmishers was between men and town and I left…I gave my trunk to a darkee to carry…our Regt lost 24 killed, Mich 17, 21st has near 100 wounded…the loss of the Rebs we don't know, probably near 300 killed. The houses in the country is full of wounded men. The army has fallen back some distance. The Arkansas Ram came down from Vicksburg, but blew up just before she got here. We don't fear an attack now, nor did we before…our adjutant [Mathew A. Lathan] was killed. The best man in the Regt our Lt. Col, was wounded in the shoulder. Our major " " " in the foot. One 1st Lieut. [Charles D. Seely] killed, 2 Lts wounded, 3 Captains wounded. Brigadier Genl. Williams was killed. The Rebs came up bearing the Stars and Stripes, says 'for God sake don't shoot your own men' and then they poured a volley into 'us'…". Interestingly enough, General Williams was so despised by his own troops that rumors circulated after the battle that he was killed by his own men. In fact, he was killed instantly by a rifle ball to the chest and later the U. S. army credited him with helping save the garrison from total annihilation. Even in death, Williams could not find peace. While his body was being brought north on a transport it collided with a gunboat and it sank. The casket was found later along the banks of the muddy Mississippi. The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Overall VG to near fine
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