Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A good war-date Union officer's battle letter, 4pp. (6pp. counting reverse writing on pages 2 and 3) 4to., written, on "Head-Quarters Twentieth Corps, Army of the Cumberland, Special Orders" stationery, by Lt. William H. Mickle [WIA Gettysburg, 7/01/63], 134th New York (as staff officer to the chief of artillery 20th Corps), "near Atlanta, Ga., July 23, 1864", in part: "Your very kind letter…found me…busily engaged…moving nearly every day against the enemy…we have been engaged in desperate battle but came off more than victorious…20th inst we were moving carefully through this rough territory & had stopped for an hour…to rest the boys & feel after the enemy with our skirmishers when suddenly like an avalanche the Graybacks were upon us, firing volleys into our line before we were aware of their approach. But Hooker's Ironclads, as the boys call themselves were not to be duped though they were unexpectedly fired into…formed their lines quickly under that galling fire & met the Johnnies with…determination poured…an unerring fire into their massed columns…the Rebs were compelled to retire…when another came on with their fiendish yell…to meet a worse fate than the former one…they made four severe charges on our line…that fight continued for three long, hot & weary hours but our single line stood like a wall …Genl. Hooker was very much pleased with the behavior of his men & said that no Genl. ever had better troops…there were parts of three corps massed against ours but they couldn't drive our single line…& had no reserves…we will stand their entire army massed against our corps…men fought till each had fired away over (100)…rounds…[our men] stood up in open field…without any protection and flogged the Rebs most unmercifully. One of our divisions captured (7)…stands of colors, buried (195)…dead Johnnies…took nearly (200)…wounded Rebs & captured over 100 well ones. In the front of their line they found hundreds more…I had to go out with the general along the lines this A. M. & couldn't finish my letter…I have had some narrow escapes today from the bullet & feel sadly because one of our orderlies was mortally wounded this P. M. while riding out with us. The general was riding between the main line of battle & skirmish line (as usual) reconnoitering…& suddenly came to an open space where the line crossed the road into…Atlanta & knowing that the Rebel sharpshooters had close range…I told Col. Perkins, the A. A. G., that the general's life was in danger & that he ought to notify him of the fact. The Col. didn't see the danger, but…I told him again…all at once the orderly riding a few feet behind us said, "I am shot through the body" & got off his horse & lay down. The general was sad indeed & said "why didn't you tell me there was danger so near" when I replied that I had asked Col. Perkins to inform him of it. While the Rebels were making an attack on our picket line today a minnie ball…spent hit me…making it smart…a little…Col. [Allen H.] Jackson of the 134th was wounded in the hand quite severely & most of the regimental officers were injured…we are sitting down around the walls of Atlanta thundering at it gates…send them our compliments in the shape of 20 pounder Parrott shells…we will soon enter the doomed city…General McPherson was killed by the Rebs yesterday while making an assault on the left…but the enemy were punished severely. In the fight of the 20th…their loss is estimated at (5,000)…while ours was about (1,500)…they cant afford many more such battles…General Johnston has been relieved by Jeff Davis…& Hood put in his place. Johnston was careful & prudent…but Hood is fond of charging. We are glad of the change for Hood will have no troops left to fight with…those who are old enough to vote do as conscience & right dictate at the coming election…I'll do all in my power for Lincoln & Johnson. There is no other way to end this war…I have ben in the saddle nearly all day & am tired…God bless you…William." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Overall VG to near fine.
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