Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A highly descriptive war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 16pp. 4to & 8vo., written by Sgt. John G. Abbott [MWIA Battery Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863], Co. D, 48th New York Vols. (Perry's Saints), Fort Pulaski, Oct. 24, 62, giving a highly detailed and graphic account of an expedition led by Generals Ormsby M. Mitchell and Jon M. Brannan to destroy the rail road bridge over the Broad River for the Charleston & Savannah railroad. The raid took place on Oct. 21-23, 1862 and culminated for the 48th New York near Coosawhatchie, Georgia when they ambushed a train load of Confederate reinforcements. Also included in this letter is a nearly three-page account of how a transplanted New England school teacher escaped from Rebel service after being forced into Confederate service while teaching in a Georgia school house. His account is recalled here with a good recollection of how was fooled two comrades into surrendering with him, in very small part: "…last Friday morning at sunrise we discovered 2 men on the meadows…we soon sent a boat to them. They proved to be 2 deserters from Savannah. They belonged to the 1st Ga. Crackers…they ere formerly from N. Y…on Saturday we went on another raid up the Bull River. We went some 7 miles above Bluffton and destroyed another salt manufactory and got a heap of furniture, poultry, hogs, sheep etc. We had quite a skirmish with the Rebels. W killed several …they wounded one of our Cpls. in Co. B [George Duran] and he died the same night and buried on Sunday. He was shot in the left loin. That is the first one we have lost by the Rebel balls. Now I will tell you a Yankee trick which took place on Sunday…[The abbreviated version appear here.]…the Rebels forced a school teacher in Macon into the Rebel army…he has been in the 47th Ga…encamped at Savannah. They knew he was from Maine and so they kept an eye on him…he feigned to be thoroughly Secesh…he was made 1st Cpl…still they would not trust him to go on picket…they concluded to let him go…he began to concoct a plan to get away from them…he went to the Capt…and asked him…[for] a pass to go hog hunting…with 2 men…granted his pass for 24 hours with 3 men to go to Hog Island which is opposite Elba Isl…they then pushed off from the shore the Cpl….asked them if their guns was loaded…they said they was…he said that he would like to shoot some D--d Yankee before he went back…he had…set the 3 guns by his side…the men asked him why he did not go ashore. He then says boys I am bound for Fort Pulaski…they thought that he was trying to scarce them…he then cocked the revolver and insisted…or he would blow their d--d brains out…he told them that he brought them…to row him down. They begged of him in the name of God not to take them but he sat with his revolver cocked and the poor armless Secesh had to pull him to the dock…the guard received them. He gave the 2 Secesh up as prisoners of war and he as a deserter. They both have families in Macon and are as strong Secesh as they make them in Ga. They are both larger than me…[they] told me that…they are in a bad fix for they dare not go back if exchanged for fear they will be treated as deserters…the Mainer has a brother in the 8th Maine…they are now kept in close confinement and curse the Yankee teacher…I expect you [are] anxious to hear of the Battle of Coosawhatchie on the Charleston & Savannah R. Road…on the 21st to embark on board the Planter, the 48th's gunboat for Hilton Head…we had to furnish 350 men…marched to the north dock…there was 700 of the 7th Ct, 500 of the 6th Ct, 600 3rd R. I., 500 of the 47th Pa., 600 of the 76th Pa., 400 engineers, 300 cavalry, 600 N. H….4,800 in all…we was to start at the signal from the Paul Jones which was to lead the expedition…the signal was misunderstood and we and one more boat got left…we started on after them…we soon found that the troops was to be landed and that we was but 5 miles from the Rail Road. The Gen. then told Col. Barton that he wanted the 48th to land on the south side of the [Broad] river and if possible to march on the Rail Road but if he thought any danger…march on Pocotaligo Station destroy the R. R. bridge…and then tare up the track…they took up a line of march…we ran up the river to within 2 miles of the RR…we could hear them fighting on the other side of the river…the skirmishers soon reported cavalry advancing in our front. We kept on. They would fire on us then retreat…the skirmishers reported nothing but cavalry in our front…we heard the train coming up…we at once took the quick step…we had our whole battalion within 200 yards…from the track…our line of skirmishers lay within 15 feet of the track and we had one brass field piece…they come running…fast…she had 5 open cars and two tight freight cars and 500 troops, the Whippi Swamp Guards on board and we all opened fire on them. They were all standing up as they were near the station. The shell from the brass piece went through the tender taring it all to pieces. The poor Secesh was thunder struck…they fell off, jumped off, lay down to get out of the was…we had a fair chance at them as they were on open cars…I am sure I sent one to his long home. I see him fall. We rushed to the track as soon as the cars got past and Oh. what horror men dead, wounded and some all mangled to pieces by the cars running overtime. We could have got several prisoners with their legs broken but we did not want them. We took one which had jumped off in the ditch…he was a young and tall fellow. We shot their color Sergt through the heart and he fell off into the ditch dead. He had the colors by his side which we got. They was about 2 1/2 ft. square, of bunting. We also got some new rifles but most of them had old rusty muskets which was of no use to us so we broke them across the track. The troops on the cars was reinforcements for the forces at the bridge…O! how they were cheered when they arrived at the station. We could hear the[m] vary plain…we at once proceeded to tare up the track and we was prepared with crobars, axes, picks etc…we also cut down the telegraph poles and cut the wires in several places…then commenced to march to the trussle work…but we found some 4,000 troops between us and the bridge and all ready to charge on us…as we had but 350 men…Gen. Mitchell had ordered us not to make any engagement…so the Col. ordered a retreat which was done cooly…our skirmishers in our rear was continually engaged with their cavalry…they had sent some 2,000 around to cut off our retreat…in getting back to the boat…we was about half embarked they opened fire on us at a distance…not more than 200 yds. They had come up at a double quick to charge on us…we at once returned it not only with our rifles but with 5 guns on the boat. We poured the grape and canister into them…the firing was kept up…some 25 minutes during which time we was as thick as we could stand on the deck…they was compelled to retreat…we shelled them until they was out of reach…we had not one man either killed or wounded in the 48th. The Lieut commanding the artillery on the boat. Lieut. Blandin 3rd R. I. was mortally wounded in the left side close to the heart. He is just alive…[Lt. Jabez B. Blanding survived only to be assassinated in the streets of Grenada, Miss. in 1866] why we did not loose 50 to 100 is a miracle…3 of our Co. had gun broken by the Rebel's balls yet come out unharmed…we then returned to the fleet at Boods Landing…found that the forces under Gen. Brannan had returned with a heavy loss, some 500 killed and wounded…they met the Rebels some 7,000…under command of G. T. Beauregard one mile from where they landed…and engagement took place which…resulted in the rout of the Rebels…Brannan followed them up. They made another stand…close to the turnpike bridge across the Pocotaligo…they seemed bound to hold their position. They had 15 pieces of artillery…the 76th and 47th Pa. was ordered to charge on them which was done…the Secesh ranks…was then…forced to retreat…our main loss was in this charge…they then burned the turnpike bridge so we could not cross…Beauregard…tried to cut off their retreat by sending 1/2 his forces to get in our rear but Brannan was too wide awake. He made a stand and attacked…and whipped them badly…he thought best, knowing the superior forces of the Rebels to retreat…he then ordered the 7th Ct. and 76th Pa. to charge on them which resulted in the complete rout of the enemy…he red. to the fleet and camped out in one of the fields near the dock…the loss was mostly in the Pa. Regts…we had several officers wounded…all the time we was at the RR…the Rebels was shelling us…at the bridge but with no damage…we got all our killed and wounded off the field that night …the wounded were put on board the Boston…we started at 10 a. m. and arrived at the Head at 1 P. M….Gen. Mitchell came down to the boat…he was cheered hartily…he then complimented us…he believed us 2nd to none in the service…if we had got to the track 15 minutes sooner we would have destroyed the whole train…there was a switch just opposite our skirmishers but we was not in time to move it. Somehow the Rebels got wind of our expedition I expect through the Negroes and had all their forces concentrated at that Point…Gen. M. Corcoran is to reinforce us here…our Col is a noble man in an engagement. He is as cool as [he] can be and his men likes him mutch better since the battle…". Abbott's original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG to near fine.
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