Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
War-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by 2nd Lt. Wallace McGrath, Co. K, 15th Ohio Vols., "Head Quarters. 1st Brigade, [n. p., but Murfreesboro, Tenn.], April 1, 1863," in part: "…you say that you will have your first vote to cast this fall and ask me to tell you the opinion of the army…in regard to the President's Emancipation Proclamation…this army is for upholding the government in what ever it may think best to do to put down this rebellion. I do not think 300 men can be found in this army who are in favor of the Emancipation…if you could see the crowds of Negroes who come into our lines everyday you would think that we are enforcing the Proclamation with a vengeance. The truth is that so many have come to us that Genl. Rosecrans had to issue an order…saying that…no negroes but able bodied men will be admitted within our lines. Heretofore we have let in women and children but we have got so many that will take a great deal of extra transportation to bring rations for them…we use negoes in a great many ways, for officer's servants and some Regts. use them for company cooks and for teamsters, but the great majority of them are used in loading & unloading the cars…the women are employed in washing, for cooking and waiting on our sick and wounded…here and at Nashville. The men in chopping wood for the hospitals. I think the negro can be used as soldiers in pulling down this rebellion (and I think they can be used as such) the government should enlist them and drill them well and then put them into the fight…they will fight and fight well too…the Copperheads of the North have about dried up…I just wish Genl. Rosecrans would send to each of the Northern states one old regiment…& let them march through their states and forage off of…burn the…farms belonging to the Copperheads that…would bring them to their senses and let them feel the horror of war…now George you know my opinion as well as the soldiers of this army…our brigade was reviewed the other day by Genl. Rosecrans and he thinks this brigade is the best in the army…we w we belong to what Our Rosy calls the best brigade in his army…W. McGrath." A bit light, else VG
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