Detailed Red River Campaign Battle Letter

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016

A great war-date Union soldier's Red River Campaign letter, 7pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Edward H. Vidlear, Co. G, 114th New York Vols., [WIA Opequon, Va., 9/19/64], Grand Ecore, La., Apr. 14, 1864 including descriptions of the battles of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, in part: "…when I wrote you last we were in Franklin. We are now about 220 miles from thare. We have been up 50 miles farther and have been driven back. We left Natchitoches which is 4 miles from here Wednesday the 6th and that day marched 13 miles on the road to Shrevesport. The country from here to Shrevesport is new and covered with a heavy growth of pine timber with only now and then a little clearing whare was erected a log hut of the rudest construction where in solitude lived some poor family. The second day we marched 20 miles and encamped on Pleasant Hill where the 13th Corps which was in advance had a heavy skirmish with the rebs who fell back. The next day we marched only 10 miles and encamped. This day there was skirmishing in front all day. The cavalry and 13th Corps went 7 miles farther to a place called Mansfield and went into camp. They had scarcely pitched their tents when the rebs come down upon them. They fell into a line behind a rail fence. The rebs flanked them and they were obliged to fall back. They formed another line and again were driven back. The rebs out numbering them 4 to one. Our division was sent for…we struck our tents and marched 7 mi[les] in one hour and 10 min. We met them on Plumb Ridge and found the 13th Corps, cavalry…artillery and everything else retreating in the wildest confusion. It was a regular Bull Run stampede. We formed in line behind a strong rail fence and prepared for the gray backs. We waited until they got up within 8 or 10 rods when we gave them a volley which sent them staggering back. Again they come and again we sent them back. I never heard such vollies before. It was one continual roar. Itv was now all…the fighting ceased. We lay behind the rail fence until midnight. At midnight we started for Pleasant Hill leaving one killed and most of our wounded on the field. We arrived at Pleasant Hill the next day about noon. As we were going into the clearing the rebs attacked our rear. We formed a line and waited patiently for the fall to again open. Our line was formed in the clearing…in the shape of a horse shoe [and] was so far from the woods that they could not do us any damage with out coming into the clearing…about 4 o'clock the ball again opened. They shelled our lines and advanced upon us. They first tried to break our centre and then tried to flank us out. In each attempt they failed. Our left wing charged upon their right and drove them back two miles and the sun went down and we were victorious. That night we again lay in line until 4 o'clock in the morning. The firing of the last day greatly exceeded the first. We took 2200 prisoners. The first day we lost 24 pieces of artillery and the last we took 12. The cavalry and 13th Corps lost about 200 wagons. That night the rebs fell back and we were obliged to fall back [to] here on account of supplies. The rebs have been reinforced by General [Sterling] Price. We are strengthening our position and preparing for another ball. [Lieut.] Col. [Henry B.] Morse [also WIA Port Hudson and Brevet Brig. Gen.] was wounded in the arm. Our regt. lost 3 k[illed] and 14 W[ounded] and quite a number missing. Our Co. has one missing. That is James R. Collier who worked for James Green…I have seen Wm. Ellsworth [1st Louisiana Cavalry. See his letters in this catalog] since the fight. He had his horse shot out from under him. The rebs fought like tigers. The prisoners we took were nearly all Texans. Our regt guarded the prisoners…after the fight. They were the best rebel soldiers that I ever saw…E. H. Vidlear…". Minor stains, else VG

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