Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
A great group of three (two partial) war-date Union soldier's letters, totaling 14pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Cyrus E. Ferguson, Co. A, 15th Iowa Vols. The first letter (partial) is datelined: "In the field in the rear of Sherman's army June 8, 1864," and reads, in small part: "When I wrote last we were at decatur Ala. We took up our line of march for Rome Ga. Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair [is] in command of the 17th Army Corps hired a guide, gave him a horse to ride…equipped & armed with two good revolvers. He started on & the first thing he done was to take us off on to the wrong road & them leave us with horse and all the traps. We got back to the right road the next day…came to a town where we heard of our guide again. He had passed throe there in the morn & complimented F. P. Blair on his sharpness or rather on his stupidity…which has become evident to all who have been…in his command…let him hear the curses that are heaped on him…this war might have been over…had it not been for this political favoritism. These pimps at Washington must have office of some kind…no matter whether he is qualified or not or whether he is a blasphemous whore monger, drunkard or not which…F. P. Blair is most likely the former…we traveled over mountains & some of the worst country…we have been marching over 3 weeks & only stopped 2 or 3 days in all…we started on to join Sherman, Clem & sow others went in the cars to Kingston, the junction in the road with the Atlanta road. There we came together again…today we stopped about noon…we are in the rear of Sherman's army, the advance being some 15 miles ahead…there is skirmishing going on every day…our corps will probably get a chance after we rest up…there is a railroad bridge destroyed over a branch of the Ala. river that must be rebuilt before much more will…[end here]…[June 9th]…Dear Willie, I am away down in Georgia. I have been marching over mountains that is something you cannot see in Iowa. A mountain is a great high hill, some places steep & rocky, all covered with trees of all kinds. Sometimes they were 8 or 10 miles wide on the top & people live up on them…Dear Fannie…I have seen a good many little girls, but they all looked dirty & as though they didn't have much that was good to eat or wear. Fannie has plenty…so she must be a good girl…C. E. Ferguson…". The second letter (complete signed C. E. Ferguson) is datelined: "In line of battle front of left wing of Sherman's army, 25 miles from Atlanta, June 11th, [1864]," in part: "…you may be surprised to see the heading of this letter, yet it is true…we can plainly see the rebel lines & the rebels themselves…they keep pretty hid, occasionally firing is going on…cannonading can be heard off to the right…our lines are…30 miles in length…there is an open field between us & the rebels & our forces are planting artillery here to drive them off…there is a very large force of rebels in front of us…they keep popping away at our lines with musketry…the artillery are making a strong line of defense. There is [an] order to hold the ground in case we are pressed…I do not think Col. [William W.] Belknap [brigadier general in two month!]has treated us…right…he may fall as far short of his ambitious desires…but we may slip from under his hands before that time…we will…let him help himself the best way he can…if more respect was paid the law of God we would certainly succeed better…our officers this morning while forming us…from our brigade commander down swore profanely. This may look brave to some but I was raised to think different…". The third letter begins while in line of battle at Kennesaw Mountain, in small part: "June 17th…we have lain still today…last night after we were relieved the rebels charged the line of works that we occupied & were driven off…we are laying back…in a safe place where only an occasional bullet whistles over us…men that have been blowing & blasphemousing & getting drunk, pale when danger comes. Others continue their swearing right in the face of danger. They seem to think that being soldiers frees them from all obligations whatever…but on the field is the place to show who are cowards & who are not…(June 18th)…there has not been much firing today…Thomas gained some ground yesterday…(June 19th)…our lines have advanced & we are to do the same…we fall in & march on towards the mountain…occupy the first range of hills [that were] occupied by the rebels. They had fell back. This we done at night. Co. A placed on picket where we remain 24 hours…(June 20th)…we got up early & advance still further…our forces planted batteries on the ground where the rebs had had theirs& are now shelling their works on the mountain…they crack pretty loud. On our right heavy fighting is going on. The cannonading is terrible…our batteries play fiercely all day to keep them from sending reinforcements to the right. The rebs only threw two or three shells at us…we have lost but one man…(June 21st)…there is no firing going on…except an occasional shot from the pickets…this mountain the rebs are in is called Kennesaw mountain…most of our company were skulking round putting in a shot when they could…some think that the rebs are evacuating the mountain…it must take time to get the rebels out of the mountain holds. They have to be flanked & shelled out. We cannot charge on them safely on account of the ground…C. E. Ferguson…". Even though two are partial this is a detailed time capsule of the goings on of the 17th Corps at Kennesaw Mountain! Estimated accordingly. All minor soiling, else overall VG.
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