Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
War-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written, on "Head Quarters Army of Georgia, 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), Raleigh, N. C., Apr. 21, 1865, to his parents (not friends of Lincoln's), in part: "…you are all anxiety in these noisy & exciting times to know how I am…relative to leaving the service & entering upon a civil career…the army is a place or…a thing that lives by excitement but the intelligence of the last 20 days has been almost too much for poor humanity to endure. First the glorious exhilarating news of the fall of Richmond, then just on its heels the capture of Lee's entire army…to a reverse of feeling the unparalleled assassination of Lincoln & attempt upon Secretary Seward cast a gloom over our army & people that cannot soon…be dispelled. There is a deep & intense feeling of sadness & indignation that cannot be expressed in words. The tears of…sorrow have coursed down the cheeks of thousands of…war worn veterans…many unused to weep found vent for their grief in this manner. The citizens of the South feel it almost as deeply as we for they just began to realize him to be their best friend…one whom many are strongly prejudiced…must necessarily fill his place. If reports are true…(Andy Johnson) on the 4th of March [was drunk]…disgraced the responsible position…he has brains & is a man of ability & I trust the dignity of his present high calling. The sad memory of Mr. Lincoln's untimely end and the wise heads around him will keep him straight & just before the people. O! that…National calamity attending the death of our late, revered President. It would seem that his work was done. He had been firm, though kind, toward the enemy…& injured them only so far as it was necessary to put down Rebellion…he was always calm & hopeful & stood at the helm of our gallant old ship of state through the storm of a 4 years Civil War…he was the only man who had…dared to break the fetters of Americas' dark bondmen & proclaims to the world that our institutions are now…free & all his acts were the embodiment of soul…it would also seem that the thousands of lives sacrificed in this great struggle were not sufficient to meet the demands of that vile institution, Slavery…in its dying agonies it made one last, desperate effort & killed the very man who had dared to wipe it from our nation's page. Probably his was the last life required…God help us to look to the wise for wisdom…though the fighting seems to be at an end yet now is the time that requires men of brains & diplomatic powers to readjust…we have a cessation of hostilities…till the terms of surrender agreed upon by Genl. Sherman & Johnston are acted upon by Grant & the President. It will be 4 or 5 days before we know what their decision is…we shall have no fighting of any amount…I have had the pleasure of being appointed as a. a. a. g. of the Artillery at Army Hd. Qrs. instead of Corps…direct…Army of Georgia, Raleigh, N. C., Ever, Wm." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG to near fine.
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