Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
And another just as wonderful war-date Union officer's letter, 5 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Lt. William H. Mickle [WIA Gettysburg, 7/01/63], 134th New York (as staff officer to the chief of artillery 20th Corps), "Hd. Qrs. Arty. Brig., 20th A. C., Before Savannah, Georgia, Dec. 17, 1864," in part: "…we have had one of the most successful & brilliant campaigns thus far since we left Atlanta…our losses have been slight…but to me they have been sad indeed. On the 13th inst while on duty along our line in front of Savannah. Lieut. Ahreets was killed instantly by a Rebel sharpshooter. His wound & the circumstances connected with his death were very much like those of Capt. Wheeler. Charley was my most intimate army friend, always cheerful, pure minded & as brave as any hero of the war. Now it seems as if all the sunshine had gone from our Hd. Qrs…we had his remains embalmed & sent…to his desolate home in Schenectady. It will almost kill his family…Charley was the pet & idol of all. How mysterious are the ways of Providence. Why should I be spared mid all this danger & carnage…of our "Big Raid"…we have lived on the enemy most of the time, taking such things as horses & mules for our transportation. Cattle & sheep for provisions, chickens, geese, turkeys, sweet potatoes, sugar…for our table supplies & have destroyed the Central R. R., the Augusta R. R. from Atlanta to Oconee River, the Ga. State R. R. from Atlanta nearly to Chattanooga, the Augusta & Savannah R. R. from Waynesboro to Millen, the Savannah & Charleston R. R. from where it crosses the Savannah river nearly to Savannah & the Gulf R. R. from near Savannah about 30 miles in direction of Florida. I presume you fancy us desperadoes…I was not much affected in that line till I saw how the Rebels abused our prisoners & then I came to the conclusion that we ought to crush them if they don't yield…our prisoners at Millen were turned into a large field surrounded by a stockade about 15 feet high & were not allowed tools nor timber to build their quarters, but were compelled to dig holes & burrow in the ground like rabbits…the hospitals for the sick prisoners was on the edge of a stagnant marsh into which ran the nuisance of all the prisoners from the stockade…in 22 days, out of about 12,000 men…over 700 of them died & we saw their graves. I wish I had the treatment of their prisoners now in my hands. I'd bring them to an equality with ours, Capt. Hamline, Lieut. Kennedy of our Regt. captured at Gettysburg came into our lines yesterday from Columbia…their tale of suffering is hard. Capt. Alcott is quite sick there & Lieut. Rockwell was well. They may attempt to escape soon. Capt. Alcott has tried it twice but was recaptured each time. Today Genl. Sherman sent in a demand for the surrender of Savannah. What will be the reply I cannot say, but we shall have it ere long…I am pleased to know that Lincoln is reelected. Matters look very favorable now…direct Lieut. W. H. Mickle, a. a. a. g. Artillery Brigade, 20th Corps, Savannah, Georgia…as for John Henry. If he was wounded in the right arm and wrote his own letter it must have been slight…he also has my sympathy. Did Peter get my vote in time & was it all right? I presume James will be…reconciled to the defeat of his pet candidate…I wish I had time to tell you all about the niggers or rather Darkies flocking around our army…the country about here is very low & swampy. The Rebels have tried to dam it up so as to flood us out, but we wont allow it…William." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG
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