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, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Cyrus E. Ferguson (signed C. E. F.), Co. A, 15th Iowa Vols., "near Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 7th,1864," in part: "…last night we had a perfect carnival among the batteries, ours & the rebs…they shelled at each other & made a terrific din…they don't do a great deal of killing. They knock each other works to pieces…their men fight just as well as ours. I never dreamed of their making such reckless…charges as they did on the 22nd & 28th July, right into the jaws of death. On the 22nd our men…were behind a line of breastworks & the rebels come in on their left so that the works din't protect them…this gap had been left open throe the mismanagement of some of the officers…it was then that I felt [?] for the balls were flying thick. I couldn't see any place to get between them, however I run with the rest & run pretty fast too till the regt was ordered to form in line again…it was then that I slacked up to a long walk for as long as one man runs they…all run…I squatted done…but I had to get up again & run…we had to…look after wounded men…on the 28th we kept more [?]…there is picket firing today also some artillery. No reply from the rebs only with musketry. It is believed they are leaving here & I shall not try to stop them…their commissioners propose a return to the Union letting what slaves [that] have been freed already go & hold what they now have….making their emancipation a gradual thing so that by 1900 all the slaves would be free…I believe they can be got to something better…this war will have to stop soon for everybody is tired of it…if Lincoln sticks for the total abandonment of slavery…I don't think he will make the White House next term…he must wind this war up by presidential election…we are longing for this campaign to end…our men are getting worn out…for they keep crowding the works closer to Atlanta…till Atlanta falls…there seems to be some fighting going on to our right this afternoon…". Light soiling effecting only the upper portion of the first page, else VG
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