Raynors HCA 2017-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017
Union volunteer's letter, 3 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Kirkland Newton Cowing (1843-1863, KIA Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. '63), Co. A, 6th Ohio Vols., "Camp Poe's Tavern, Tenn., Aug. 30, 1863," to his brother attorney and New York City judge Rufus B. Cowing, in part: "…after the evacuation of Tullahoma our Divis. was stationed at Manchester where we s[t]aid till the 16th of August when we made a general advance on Chattanooga by the way of Dunlap. We are now about 16 miles from Chattanooga and 6 miles from Tennessee river…two days ago one of my comrades and myself went to the river and exchanged shots with our "Southern Breathren" and had a little conversation with the Rebs. One of them yelled over to show our heads which we very politely told them was "played out." We asked how far to Chattanooga. They yelled we could get there in a day if we would come over…which we considering the circumstances refused to do. The country in which we are now is strongly Union nearly every family having more of its members in our army. They are very bitter against the Rebels and the only mar t their happiness is that they are afraid we will have to evacuate the country. They say take everything we have only do not leave us to the mercy of the Southern Devils…the wrongs they have suffered are enough to turn then into friends…if me or mine had been treated the way the chivalry of the South have treated the people of this region I never would have mercy in a Southern soldier. They flock in crowds to camp and the men are all willing and anxious to help us take the town of town's Chattanooga…I have overdrawn my clothing a/c 13 in the last year. Our allowance is 42, but on a march we wear a great many shoes out. Many of the boys have overdrawn to the amount of 25 and 30…Kirk N. Cowing." Minor toning and some spotting, else VG
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