Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
A great war-date Union Colored Troops Officer's battle letter, 13pp. 8vo., written by Captain John M. Magner, Co. I, 55th USCT, Memphis, July 5, 1864 being his very detailed account of the battle of Brice's Cross Roads and of his harrowing escape from General Nathan B. Forrest's rebel cavalry forces, in very small part: "…you wanted me to tell…all about my escape from Forrest…we had been marching 8 days through the hot sun…on the 9th day we heard cannonading…my Regt was scattered and divided…3 men to each wagon…we was some 3 or 4 miles behind the main Infty force. Our Cav. was over 12 miles in the advance…the enemy…was engaging their attention with…balls and shells. I had been sick…and…had been riding in the ambulance…as firing commenced in front we was ordered to 'double quick.' I got out of the ambulance and run to the head of my Co. and took command…as much as 1/3 of the Infty force fell out…before we got into action…we was so exhausted and so thirsty we was all most crazy…I seen men as we was leaving the field…fall in the hands of the enemy…they would throw up their hands and cry…and beg us to shoot them…I am satisfied Gen. Sturgis is a Rebel as much as Lee or davis…he had an understanding with Forrest and I have no doubt but was well paid by Forrest through the citizens of Memphis. There is not a colored man in my Regt but could have handled the men better…Forrest could have whipped the whole U. S. Army after the strategy of Sturgis. My Regt and an other colored Regt fought them an hour after all the white soldiers had become panic stricken and left…our two Regts could not whip 15,000 men…so we commenced the retreat…the scenes from the battle ground to Memphis beggars all description…the rebels outnumbered us 8 to 1…we was now cut off from all possible…support from our white troops-the enemy pouring grape, canister and lead into our ranks…to surrender now was only 'death' and when ghastly death stares a man in the face [it] inspires him with…courage and physical strength…we was 25 miles from Ripley and 125 from Memphis. We supposed the white soldiers…would go to Ripley and stop, rally and give Forrest another fight…so we cut our way through…so we cut our way through and commenced…a retreat…the graybacks…so close to…see the white of their eyes…I fell down…helpless…two of the boys cut it [a mule] out of its traces, put me on it and…I managed to ride that mule to Ripley…I got off the mule and sit down on a log thinking to rest…I had hardly touched the log before I was asleep…as the last man…was passing…I was…wakened…but to my utter astonishment…some one had come and cut the rein…and had rode the mule off leaving me to hold the [empty] strap…I could distinctly hear the Rebels coming up behind us…so I started as brisk as possible…I did not find any of our forces except the two pieces of colored Regts…we had hardly got in town before the Rebs were coming on us…we fought them…about 2 hours, driving the Rebels out of the town…as they were being reinforced it was useless for our small squad to stay longer…Surgeon Humphrey got me another mule…I got within…8 miles of Lagrange, Tenn…I had been taking opium pills…all the day before and that night…I had no saddle and had to ride 'woman fashion'…I fell off 15 or 20 times…when we got to this swamp…I went sound to sleep…I commenced pulling the strap for my mule…I fouled the very same trick had been played…on me…I had no idea at all where the road was…but a few steps brought me into the road-'halt. who comes there.' Two men stood…before me demanding who I was…I all most knew it was Rebs and I knew I must deceive them…I answered…'a friend' and said I -Boys what Regt do you belong to.' But they did not…want me to find out…they answered 'the 10th'…I answered…I belong to the 10th [and] I am loosed, where is the Regt…and one of them begin to come up close…to find out by sight of my uniform who I was…so I said my horse is right out here. I will bring him up and started out as if I was after him…I made tracks through that swamp pretty fast…they halted me a No. of times but I wouldn't halt…when I run against a horse…eating weeds & grass. He had a full rig on…but was covered with mud…I think he had fell off the bridge…I bounced up o him and turned him in the direction I supposed our forces had went…I soon overtook a squad of rear guard…my horse…give out 8 miles…[of] Collierville where we took the cars for Memphis…we was only 3 days coming back that took us 9 to go…I was…4 days with out a mouthful of food…I have been..to Ft. Donelson, Shilough and other places but for hardships they were but drops in the bucket…". Magner served previously with the 66th Illinois Vols. who were also known as Birge's Western Sharpshooters. Also included is a copy of familial provenance that dates the acquisition of these back to the 1940's. Overall VG
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