Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
War-date Union soldier's battle letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Corp. Samuel C. Kirkpatrick [WIA in the face at Port Gibson, Miss., 5/1/63], Co. E, 11th Wisc. Vols., "Camp on the Current River, Mo., Jan. 1, 1863," in part: "…it was quite a lively day yesterday…General Daverson [Union Brig. Gen. John Wynn Davidson] came here and when he came into camp we fired a general's salute…we have the pontoon bridge laid across the river…and we send out a train everyday a foraging …last Sabbath…we started out to forage…from the 11th and 33 Ill. under command of Lieutenant [Eli H.] Mix of our Reg and the other in command of Lieutenant [Spencer P.] Wright…of the 24 Mo. Reg. They went out from the river some 9 miles. Mix got his train loaded and started for camp. There was not corn enough in that field to load both trains. There was another field close by so Lieutenant Wright took the remainder…intuit he other field and Mix went to camp. He had not gone very far when he heard considerable firing…he sent into camp for reinforcements which was sent out on the double quick…our Co had to go and Co. G…and 2 companies out of the 33 Ill…and one Co. of the first Wisconsin and 2 parts…of 13 Ill. Cavalry…the Secesh had out numbered them and taken them all prisoners, Lieutenant Wright and 21 privates and 7 wagons and all the teamsters…the cavalry pressed them and when they got up to them the rebels was too strong for our men. They numbered between 8 and 9 hundred so they got away with all when the scrimage tuck place. We found 2 men dead of the rebels and they wounded 4 of our men, one so bad that they had to take his leg off. I seen the doctor take it off. It looked pretty rough. We went to camp for an ambulance to haul the wounded…we got started…at 8 o'clock. It was pretty dark and a awful road, lots of streams…we got into camp at 11…there is 9 thousand rebels at Pokahontas…the rebels is three times as thick now as they was when we went through leer last spring…our force is as follows. The 11 Wis. and the 33 Ill and 8 Indiana…18 and the 24 and several other regiments enough to make eight regiments of infantry and we have part of the first Wis. Cavalry and…13 Ill…Cavalry…we have four batteries. The largest piece of cannon…is a 18 pounder…we do not let…citizens in camp…without particular business and then they are blindfolded and taken to head quarters and taken out the same way…a couple of women came up to the picket post and wanted to come into camp. The officer of the guard told them if they wanted to go into camp that they would have to be blindfolded. They loud that was too rough so they went back home…this war is not turned out as I thought…I believe that the Southern Confederacy will be established before 2 years…we never hear the Union mentioned now days…the minds of the private soldier is changed considerable in the last six months…". The original transmittal cover is included. Kirkpatrick's phonetic spelling has been corrected. VG
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