Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Cyrus E. Ferguson (signed C. E. F.), Co. A, 15th Iowa Vols., "Camp near Savannah, Ga., Dec. 14, 1864," in small part: "…we are getting near the coast…we left Marietta on…Nov. 13th & marched to within 3 miles of Atlanta…the R. R. buildings in Atlanta are all destroyed & judging from the heavy columns of smoke…a great deal of the town was burned. The expedition is made up of the 14th, 15th, 17th & 20th Army Corps, each Corps traveling a road by itself…in line with the others. The 15th Corps was on the extreme right, the 17th next…then the 20th & the 14th on the left. On the third day the 15th Corps skirmished a little…we would hear a little cannonading on our left…it was the intention to avoid all fortified points on our march…at one point the rebs opposed our crossing a river but their forces was small…this was at the Oconee river. We struck the Macon & Savannah R. R. at Gordon & we destroyed this road nearly to Savannah…occasionally a lot of niggers would come along with us & they were put in the Pioneer Corps to work the roads when necessary, any amount of wrenches & children would follow, if allowed to, but it is worse for them then slavery for we cannot take care of them & the children have to suffer for some of the nights have been very cold…we marched up to within 3 miles of Savannah where we come to the reb's first line of works, which we reached on Saturday Dec. 10th. Our brigade formed in line of battle & commenced advancing but a swamp…prevented their further progress. We lay in the swamp until the next day…we moved further out to…open communication with the fleet at the mouth of the Ogeechee river…we had to run the gauntlet of a rebel battery for about 3/4 of a mile…the rest of us staid behind & waited till night. The moon rose full & clear. Our route lay across an open field with water on each side. The General always rides at the head of the Brigade. I march right behind him & his staff with the advance guards…about 8 o'clock we started out of the thick pine woods into the open field. All was silent, no talking was allowed. We passed safely over. The 32nd Ill. regt…was in the advance & was nearly over when the 1st Minnesota Battery moved up to cross & the rattling of their wheels told the rebs we were there & they opened on us…Ft. McAllister was taken from the rebs without much fighting…"
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