Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's battle letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Homer S. Sackett, Co. H, 2nd Conn. Hvy. Artillery, "Camp near Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 22, 1864", to his brother Augustine Sackett, in part: "…last Wednesday was the hardest fight I have ever had a hand in. I was up early…& heard picket firing on our right but thought little of it, as it was a common occurrence. Pretty soon a brisk fire began on our left with now & then a cannon shot. The pack up call was sounded & in the shortest possible time we were ready. Wagons & Sutlers were rushed to the rear & we into line, my breakfast I left part cooked. We had not gained our position before shot & shell were bursting & whistling round and the 8th and 19th corps rushing to the rear. The 6th stood for a time holding the rebus in cheek. Our brigade that last to leave & the 2nd C. V. H. the last …the rebus were on three sides of us and only 15 or 20 rods distant when we started & then not a man until we had the order. Many a poor fellow was left behind either dead or wounded & prisoners. Thus things went for about two miles when the cavalry succeeded in stoping the main body and we reformed…the shell were a little too thick & we were marched slowly back a mile or two farther. Our regt. acting as skirmishers. Only 10 of Co. H [were] present. Gen. Sheridan was away, having gone to Washington two days before. Things looked dark. Our skirmish line had halted to rest [with] none of our troops in sight and in front. The Johnies were getting their breakfast on [in] our old camp…we had the order to advance on the Rebs & on our left cheer after cheer sounded through the woods & along the line…Sheridan has come. He says we must sleep on our old camps…we felt as though we might hold our present position but somewhat doubted as we had lost 16 pieces of Arty…we were marched to the left & joined the rest of our brigade. The Johnies shelled us & advanced their skirmish line. We were ordered to charge it was now 3 P. M. which we did with as much noise as possible & after a few rounds had the Rebs under motion though their batteries were doing fearful work…this time we drove them half a mile…when they stopped behind some stone walls & in a piece of woods, now came the tug of war, they sp[?] on the canister & grape…I got as good a position as I could & fired forty rounds. Just as I ramed the last ball home…they started. I sent that in pursuit & with a cheer started after. This time we gave them no time to stop when the cavalry took them in hand…Miner [Pvt. Minor Strong] was missing & had been all day. It was growing dark…a fellow told us Miner was wounded & lay about half a mile away where he had been all day. I went with one of the boys in search of him but after looking an hour or two among the dead & dying gave up and returned to camp…Miner had sent in word where he was…Austin [Pvt. Eugene G. Austin] with one or two had gone to see him…the boys…reported Miner comfortable. He had a healthy flesh wound…F. Warner [Pvt. Frank J. Warner, WIA Cold Harbor] & I went & spent the night with him keeping a good fire & making him a good straw bed. He had lain there all day, had been exposed to our fire twice, had been hit in the back by a piece of shell which bruised him some. The Rebs some of them used him well while others wanted to shoot the sons of bitches & wound if they knew the 6th Corps had a hand in burning the barns up the Valley. But never mind they were going…to Pennsylvania & would do as much…Miner said he was afraid they would run over him. Our brigade recaptured all the cannon we lost & 47 pieces of theirs…between 2 & 3000 prisoners, what wagons we lost with 150 of theirs & piles of small arms. They striped all our dead…Old Early will feel satisfied now. Our Regt. lost a large number…our officers are all gone. Our Co. had 1 killed, 15 wounded & two missing, both of our Lieuts. wounded. Lieut. Gregory lost his [right] arm [1st Lt. John Milton Gregory discharged for wounds 1/10/65]. Lieut. [Henry] Skinner with 38 men were guarding a ford & in a very dangerous position. So sudden was the attack that no time was given to notify them so all were captured…Lieut. Cickam [?] & 8 men only the day before Co. H was guarding the same ford…[Oct. 24]…have heard nothing from the wounded boys yet hope to…I cast my vote for Old Abe the day before the fight…Turrel of N. Milford was one f the commissioners. He was here when the ball opened but made a good time towards Winchester but came back the next day to see who were wounded in Co. H…I am quite well again though the boys say…that I look 10 years older when I left the barracks. Who cares for that I don't…yours truly, Homer S. Sackett…". The original stamped transmittal cover, addressed: "2nd Asst. Engineer, Augustine Sackett, U. S. Str. Mattabasett, 3rd Division, North Atlantic Squadron, via Fortress Monroe.", is included. VG.
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