Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A great war-date Confederate soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Sgt. John L. Frazer, Co. D, Waul's Texas Cavalry Legion, "Camp at Cirtonell a depot on the Mobile and Ohio R. R., 25 miles from Mobile, Jan. 22, 1865," to his comrade back home, Sgt. George M. McCormick, in small part: "…I have such bad, bad news to write…George, things has taken a grate change sins you left. It looks like everything is giving way at once…General Hood's army has been drove out of Tenn. & it is almost demoralized. He lost some 15,000 men…and his artillery. Forrest come out with…care but lost a good many of his men…he come out with two more guns than he went in with. The army is scattered all over (Miss.) They have furloughed a grate many of the men. They are letting every seventh man go home that belongs to the Trans Miss. Department. That army is worse used up than it has ever bin…old Grierson [Union Cavalry General Benjamin H. Grierson] come out with thousand men, struck the R. R…this side of Corinth and came down it to Egypt Station before he met enemy opposition. There he met some of [?] and four hundred of these Yankee Confeds [Galvanized Yankees of the 10th Tenn. Regiment]. They fought well until the ammunition gave out. They were near all taken prisoner. They then turned across to the Central road, struck at Grenada burnt the place and took down the road nearly to Canton…was a fine thing for Grierson that Forrest was not there…whiskey was the cause of him not being dealt with…in these critical times when our officers drink two much they ought to be dealt with very rough…Old Sherman went through like a flash took Savannah…I reckon that old Butler has Wilmington by this time by the last accounts they had Fort Fisher…Sherman is after Branchville…then he has Lee's supplies cut off. Charleston goes next…Lee is in a very critical position…part of Hood's army is going that way…Mobile has bin threatened every since you left here and it is believed it will be given up before long…the scout I went on we went up the R. R. 75 miles & then struck across to Pearl River. We got to Columbia on Pearl River sunday…the 4th of December…before we got in town we met some citizens leaving. They told us that the Yanks was just across the river. We rode up into town, found the place deserted except a few women and one soldier. He told us they where fifteen miles below…I couldn't help it but I felt like they were a going to ror in and surprise us so I went up to the upper edge of town…to get some government forage they was there…before I got back the Yanks [d]rove into the boys and scattered us in every direction. Mayhan [Pvt. James Norfleet Mahon, Co. D, died Columbus, TX 1926] you know was on his move. They shot his gun in too. He came out where I was and he was the worst scared feller that I ever scene. His eyes looked as big as the moon. He got to where I was. He was hollering "take to the bushes. The town is full of Yanks." Every time after that Mayhan wold get site of a Yank. He wold break and run…none of the boys [was] hurt except Fulks. He tried to run over a tree [and] skinned his face up…Willis [Lt. Col. Leonidas Willis] has resigned and gone home. He said that the Batt.[alion] was getting so small…that there would be a consolidation before long…[Capt. William D. W.] Peck is now in command of the Batt…it has bin rumored…that Peck was going to resign…he told me there was [trust in it.] I told him I was sorry to hear it…he used the same words Willis did and said he…rather serve as a private. [1st Lt. F. J.] Nally sent up his but Peck wouldn't approve it…what inducement is there for the men to stay…when the officers wont stay…there is but few of the boys deserted…Billy Kee [Pvt. William A. Key] of Co. E, [Pvt. D. J.] Fuller Co. F…I think they have gone up in (Miss.)…there is a great many talking of leaving when we are paid off…I suppose Wolsey told you of the boys horses getting killed. T. P. More is now gone home after another one. Thargon and Black has gone up to Miss. after one…". Also included is the original stamped transmittal cover addressed: "George M. McCormick, Oakland PO, Colorado Co., Texas," with manuscript postmarked of Feb. 16, 1865. Overall VG with negligible ink galling affecting center fold
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