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 written, 4pp. 8vo., on "Headquarters Twentieth Corps, Office Chief of Artillery" stationery by Lt. William H. Mickle [WIA Gettysburg, 7/01/63], 134th New York (as staff officer to the chief of artillery 20th Corps), "at the gates of Atlanta, July 26, 1864," in part: "…we are now sitting round the walls of Atlanta and knocking at the gates of the city…yes thundering at her gates. We have many guns in position that can throw shells into town and as soon as we rest a little from…our past few days fighting and care for the wounded we'll move down on their flank, cut their only line of R. Road & if they intend to stay in the city & hold it. They'll be "gobbled" with it. If not they must evacuate the town in order to keep on their line of communication. In either case we get into the city. The rebs have done-since Hood was put in command-just what we have desired all the time viz. charged on our lines instead of our charging them. During the 20th, 21st & 22d inst…the loss of the enemy in killed, wounded & missing amounts to over (15,000)…while ours is not quite (1/3)…Hood cant afford another such fight. I hope he will continue to attack…the longer the Rebs hold out the more complete their destruction…& more perfectly will the curse of Slavery be erased from our Nation's page. Grant may not take Richmond for sometime, but its doom is sealed. We may not enter Atlanta for a week…we [will] make our triumphed march through her desecrated streets. Our noble boys under…Hooker fought splendidly on the 20th…we alone punished the enemy to the extent of (6,000)…men while ours was about (1,500)…all honor is due such noble veterans!! I saw a congratulatory order from Genl. Thomas commanding the Dept. of Cumberland sating the loss & gain of our arms in the fight of the 20th…our loss in the whole army…was about 3,300 while we captured nearly that number…about 3,000 of their dead were buried by us & parties of the enemy…with flag of truce for that purpose…makes a terrible loss to them while ours is much smaller…the 3d Div. of the 20th Corps captured (7) seven stands of colors & found many sabers on the field. God has blessed us with glorious victory and should occasion permit we could fight as determined & gain as great a conquest today as when we met them in hand-to-hand engagements on the 20th & 22d…our troops are in fine condition & their spirits so elevated by their late successes that whatever is within range of human possibilities will be accomplished…bless God for victory so striking & brilliant!!…William." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Overall VG to near fine.
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