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. Cyrus E. Ferguson (signed C. E. Ferguson), Co. A, 15th Iowa Vols., "On the way towards Atlanta, July 4th, 1864," in part: "…we pulled up & left the place we occupied so long. We marched out at night & took a course round to the right…the rebels left the [Kennesaw] mountain. Our forces were getting too far in their rear. We saw no rebels on our way. We went to the right towards the Chattahoochie…we come up to where a small force of rebels were skirmishing with our advance…they were soon driven back…yesterday our left wing had a great deal of fighting to do & took a lot of prisoners…there is cannon firing off to the left this morning…Marietta was taken yesterday…rebel prisoners say that here will be the last stand…we have pontoons with us…part of our forces had got across the river…(9 o'clock) we are ordered to fall in …our company & four others were deployed as skirmishers…we advanced & drove the rebels for some distance…they opened on us with artillery throwing grape & canister…we fell back…made a stand & fired away at them…they were like to gobble us so we fell back across a field…& our brigade them moved up & advanced slowly driving them…they have about ceased fighting now…among the wounded…are Jim Sweeny in the thigh…Perry Gephart in the hip…these were in Co. A…I know of one man killed…I did put in a few [shots] to celebrated the 4th…& there were plenty coming thick…we fight under cover or rather get round…trees, fences, stumps or anything that you can hid behind…(July 5th) about 8 o'clock we were ordered to fall in…we soon heard firing & then yelling…[part of the letter is missing here and then continues on a separate sheet]…we might be spared the necessity of going towards Atlanta…for there is nothing attractive in that direction…I have marched over 200 miles…". Light soiling, else VG
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