Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A great war-date Union artilleryman's letter, 4pp. 4to, written by Pvt. Thomas Corwin Potter, [MWIA Chickamauga, 9/20/63 both his arms were blown off by pre-ignition of his cannon, buried Chattanooga National Cemetery], Camp Mitchel, Rogersville, Ala., June 16, 1862, to his sister in Michigan concerning their part in an expedition to Rogersville, Alabama in mid-May 1862 and of their fighting at that time, in small part: "Again Standart's battery is a wandering to the tune of-get out of the wilderness…the centre section, the captain in command, was on the road from Columbia to Murfreesboro and the left section, Lieutenant Sappher [bvt. brig. gen. Jacob H. Sypher 1873-1905] commanding was at Chattanooga and the right section Lieutenant Bennett is lying here…we are 7 miles south of Columbia and 20 south of the Alabama and Tenn. line…two miles below the mouth of Elk River…we left camp…on…the 3rd of May escorted by two companies of the 1st Wisc.-made a forced march to his place. We arrived here Sunday…Monday we proceeded to the river accompanied by the 78th Penn.-Col. Serwell acting B. Genl. The rebels had a very good position in some log buildings on the west side of the river which they loopholed for riflemen. Our sharpshooters and theirs were soon exchanging their compliments. The rascals had a number of Belgium rifles carrying a two once ball. They made pretty good shots but…doing no damage other than killing a horse…but they could not stand Shenkl shell. We riddled every one of the buildings through and through, burning five of them to the ground…we took up our quarters in a large church for the evening…harvest is nearly over here-people here are miserably poor even those that were…wealthy before the war broke out are in a sad plight…last week a party of rebel surgeons and citizens came cross the river under a flag of truce…bringing [ a man of] the 37th Indiana who had been wounded and taken prisoner at Athens…about to weeks ago by a guerrilla band. There were some 40 captured at the same time but they have all been paroled. The party came up to the church, the upper part being used as a hospital. He was placed in charge of our doctor and is doing well. They stayed to dinner, had quite a gay time of it when they were escorted to the river by the Col. and staff…there is known to be over 1000 rebel cavalry on this side of the river but we will not be attacked even by this force in the day time. They may…pay us a visit some dark night…Buell's division is near here following up the Memphis and Charleston RR which runs within 7 miles of the river…he is to head the rebel army if they make a break for Virginia toward Tenn…there is strong prospects of this rebellion coming to a close soon. The rebel states are all suffering severely and if we let them alone they will soon starve out…do not be uneasy about my welfare. Remember that there is many other men for bullets to strike besides me. Many who have left found wives and helpless children to mourn for them and bullets are very apt to sing very close to a man's ears without touching him…our rebel friends keep up their hopes that our troops cannot stand their climate but they are as much mistaken as they were when they boasted that the Yankees would not fight…". The letter's original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG
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