Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A historically important war-date letter, 2pp. 4to., written by a certain "Dan Tindall", Fort Pickering, [Memphis], Tenn., concerning the accidental killing of an unnamed "Daguerrian Artist" and the "ugly sight" of the execution of three soldiers for the rape, robbery and murder of a local Memphis woman, reading, in part: "…that our martial friend Dick Smedley had met with a soldier's death in Georgia. I was sorry to hear so, but such is the fate of war, however sad it may be to loving friends…I went this morning to see the verdant Hundred Day's men thinking that some of our Morgan Co. [Indiana] boys might be among them. I found none. Some of these men have brought nice feather beds with them and all the conveniences of home. What to do with their trumpery now the question. Most of them have been ordered out to Ripley and the Q. M. D. will not haul their tricks. I pity some of them, but I guess they will stand it for the hundred days. One of the guards here, in the fort [the 3rd United States Colored Heavy Artillery were garrisoning Fort Pickering at the time.] accidentally shot a Daguerrian Artist a few days ago. The ball entered his abdomen and death occurred in 24 hours. This fort is still being strengthened and the parapets is being sodded with grass. Heavy details are at work all the time in erecting new batteries. Gen. A. J. Smith left here few days ago with 12,000 men to look after Forrest & Co. who are reported to be in the neighborhood of Corinth, Miss.Guerrillas are getting quite bold about here. A short time ago 40 of them attacked a train 6 miles east of here and killed six persons. Since writing to you before I have seen three men of the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry shot for murdering a woman. The execution took place just east of the FortIt was an ugly sight. Times seem rather dull down this way. Everything seems at a stand still…Dan Tindall." On June 10, 1864 three soldiers from the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry were executed after being convicted of raping and murdering a local Memphis woman. They were Privates John Callahan, Co. H; Jacob Snover, Co. M; and Thomas Johnson, Co. D, (once promoted corporal, but reduced to ranks). Both Snover's and Johnson's burials can be found today in Memphis', Mississippi River National Cemetery. Worthy of further research in order to flesh out the story of who the unfortunate photographer was since many well-known photographers operated out the post throughout the war. Negligible ink galling, else VG
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