$915
Autographed letter signed ("F. Forsyth"), First Lieutenant, Lee County Union Volunteers, Company G, Thirteenth Infantry Illinois Volunteers, 8 pp., Murfreesboro, Tennessee, January 14, 1863. Forsyth begins by describing the arduous march toward Murfreesboro, wherein the company, falling shortly behind the Confederate army, are involved in a few short skirmishes. They made camp about six miles outside of Murfreesboro. So close were the opposing forces that the men were ordered repeatedly to expel all camp fires. However, according to Forsyth, when daylight broke many of the men re-lit the fires, tipping off the Confederate army, and were attacked with an overwhelming force of artillery and cannon fire. Forsyth describes the confusion that ensued: "Artillery horses half harnessed got scared, some of them wounded, flying in all directions. I come very near being hurt by them. There were six of them, about two steps behind me, all harnessed ... coming like destruction. It was the worst scare I had during the day. Between me and them was two trees - I throwed myself behind them, just as I did so - crash - they come against the train. The chains behind them stopped their course." The men were forced to retreat. A number were killed and wounded. He discusses the regiment's involvement in the Battle of Murfreesboro, specifically the Battle of Stones River (December 31, 1862 - January 3, 1863) and how they were assigned to bury the dead. He lists a number of soldiers and their wo Read more…
Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Date:
2011-04-05
