Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
A great collection of seven (7) war-date letters written by Sergeant Charles Delamere, Co. H, 13th Michigan Vols., concerning his role in helping repel the little known attacks upon Murfreesboro and Nashville during the summer and fall 1862 by Nathan B. Forrest and Joh Hunt Morgan, reading, in very small part: "…[Camp Barracks, Nashville, July 15, [1862], 4pp. 8vo.]…our troops were defeated at Murfreesboro day before yesterday and every soldier who was able to carry a gun had to turn out…I have been acting in command of a Co. since Phelps left, but I do not think I will retain it long…if the enemy had followed up their success they would have given us a hard pull…we have been strongly reinforced last night and this morning this place they will never take because if we cannot hold it we will fire it and leave nothing but bare walls for them…[Camp Barracks, Nashville, Aug. 3, 62, 3pp. 4to.]…I am sorry to learn that they will have to resort to drafting in Mich. when the states of Ind., Illinois and Maine are furnishing their quota of volunteers…[Fort Negley, [Nashville], Nov. 14, 62, 4pp. 4to.]…I have written quite a number [of letters] but some of them I suspect have fallen into the hands of John Morgan and followers…I am detached from the 18th Mich and now belong to the staff of Capt. Morton of the Engineers. He is Chief Engineer of the 14th Army Corps and I am commissary under him…I will also send a long barreled rifle that I captured from a rebel. He had his thumb on the trigger, but my trusty sword brought him to the ground. It is [a] present to Father…I also have a Colt revolver and a watch that I captured…we had a battle here at Nashville on the 8th of this month…I had the honor of being attached as aid de Camp to Col. Cassidy of the 6th Ohio…I associate with none but officers and those of the highest rank…give my love to Father, mother and all hands at home…I hope he will be pleased with the rifle. Tell him it was [the] one captured by his son in law in fair fight and if he should never see me again to recollect that I fell in defense of my country…[Fort Negley, Nashville, Nov. 17, 62, 3pp. 4to.]…I am permanently attached to the Engineer Department by detail. There is going to be a genl. advance of the troops here once more…[In camp near Murfreesboro, Jan. 11th, 1862[3], 3pp. 4to.]…I was through two days of the fight. The first and third and part of the fourth day. I am in charge of all the tools of the Pioneer Brigade…about a mile from the battlefield. The first day I acted as aide de camp and the morning of the second the rebels commenced shelling our teams when I was ordered to Nashville with them…that night…[I] was ordered back with a lot of spades, picks and shovels. At about half past three in the morning a gang of guerrillas attacked the train, but our men licked them with out any loss, but my horse and overcoat…as there were some dead rebels I soon had a good overcoat and blanket and a better horse than the one I lost…our bits commenced throwing up entrenchments…loss during the fight to me 1 horse, 1 overcoat, i hat and a pair of gloves. Gain 1 horse, 2 blankets, 1 overcoat, 4 shirts, 1 pr. boots and two good caps besides a revolving rifle. I did not get a scratch…Jim Bouton…got a ball hole through his cap which grazed his head slightly. The 13th lost a great many men in the fight, but the Rebels were badly whipped…we will advance soon. I hope so for every day's delay gives strength to the rebels…". Much more interesting content. The only draw back with these letters is that several have damp stains and some paper loss. These losses have been reinforced with archival tape. These faults can be easily overlooked though since content such as is found here very seldom comes to the marketplace. Also included here are several letters written by Delamere's wife and one great battle of Shiloh letter, although, that letter has been severely mouse chewed. (10 letters+)
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