Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
War-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Capt. Robert H. Crist (1829-1912), Co. L, 1st Indiana Hvy. Artillery, Mobile, Ala., May 25, 1865, in part: "…there is little danger here…from the rebels although there are thousands of thereabout the streets. Most of them regret they could not gain their Independence but acknowledge themselves whipt and willing to get as good terms from the north as they can and wait for another chance to rebel when they hope to do better. The wiser ones does not say so but the unsophisticated soldiers & citizens will talk that way…it matters not…we have them in our power and intend to keep them there for a time. They are very anxious [to] go again…but I see Sheridan is now in command here and Lincoln is no longer patting them on the head & saying now go & be a good boy…they are not to be trusted. The South let others such as Yancey, Slidell, Davis, Wigfall, Brown etc. think for them…the people of the South are excitable and require a change and will have it and will have it when they can get leaders fool hardy enough to lead them…I was over to New Orleans…several hundred paroled prisoners went…among themes a Confederate chaplain & surgeon…our sojourn in Mobile has been very pleasant. We now have the guns hauled in and are ready to leave…an awful explosion of powder took place here today. Some…90 tons of powder was in a Cotton Press in the upper part of the city which blew up at 3 P. M. I was down to the mustering officer and he was not in so I rode up town to the depot of the Mobile and Ohio R. R. and on my return I came past the building about 20 minutes before the explosion. I was sitting on the gallery (porch) of the office some 1/2 mile off when it took place. I thot a 12 pdr brass gun had been discharged at first…I see the glass, sash, shutters, brick walls falling and then came the concussion and an awful roar of bursting shells and the reverberation through the streets was awful. My horse was tied at the door. I looked for him. He was standing quiet looking at the others running away into & over each other. I…got on him and went to the wreck. I met many men bruised & cut up badly…the sidewalks & in some places the streets were blocked. I got up to the wreck. The shells were still bursting. I could hear many a poor fellow grooming under the fallen roofs & walls. I rode back up Royal street and urged as many forward as I could…to relieve suffers & put out the fire. A great many mangled people have been taken out…the Custom House 1/2 mile off had all the glass & large heavy sash broke out. Some 1 or 2 steam boats burned…not many dwellings destroyed…it is the worst destruction of life & property I ever heard from one explosion of powder…". The original transmittal cover is also included. VG.
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