Torgen
11-07-2008, 05:32 PM
To explain why I am so interested in this game, I thought I'd share a little of what I do for a living.
This is a 1864 letter from a Union soldier serving under Sherman in the early part of the Atlanta campaign, along with the transcription I wrote.
http://www.propnturret.com/images/ebay/wintersdallasga%20001.jpg
http://www.propnturret.com/images/ebay/wintersdallasga%20002.jpg
Here's the transcription (posting here loses the formatting, but you can still follow along):
Headquarters 50th O.V.I. in the field
Near Dallas, Georgia
May 31st, 1864
Dear brothers sisters Father and Mother.
I take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know I am still safe while I am sorry to say a great many others are not so well of[f]. I wrote a letter home from Cleveland Tennessee stating that we was going to the front. Well we started the next morning and came as far as Cass Station where we had a little fracas with Wheeler’s Rebbel Cavalry the captured 4 men out of our Regiment and burnt about 15 wagons that belonged to our Corps. We then fell back to Kingston and the Rebs retreated. We then started on here. Where we arrived 4 days ago and we have been engaged with the rebbels ever since that is in heavy skirmishing this morning the Rebbels Charged our works drove in our skirmishers in front of our Regiment and came on within 50 yards of our breast works and we opened a whole volley on them and drove them back. Co. K was then ordered to deploy as Skirmishers and drive them to their holes which we did with a yell. We repulsed them handsomely and drove them clear to their works. Colonel Elsner Tample(?) merited Co K very highly for their noble conduct but alas poor John Pauder and John Keloter(?) was killed and Joseph Carson
---------------------
was slightly wounded Wm Dean was wounded yesterday the doctor says Dean and Carson will get well.
I don’t know exactly what our Regt’s loss is but I will put it down as follows, although I know I over rate it. Six killed and about 15 wounded in this I think I over rate it. I expect you will see the correct amount in the papers but I have no time now to give you all the particulars. I will just say they charged on our whole line and they were driven back with great slaughter. The Rebs had a strong position here our forces are in their flanks. A few days more will tell the tale. I guess our Brigade will be sent to the rear tomorrow to rest for a few days as they have been in the front 4 days now. I thank God that my life is yet spared to enjoy health and prosperity. Do not feel alarmed about me for I will put my trust in god. Who is able to save us all. I received a letter from Phebe today but I am at a loss to to know who Little Candilla is. I hope you will explain yourself in your next letter. Write soon and direct it to Kingston Georgia 50 Reg O.V.I. Co K 2 division 3 brigade 23 army corp
---------------
There is a continual crack of muskets on the skirmish lines but what execution is done cant be told. There is very few of our men wounded on the skirmish lines the balls whistle over our heads all the time but we are laying behind breastworks and so they don’t do us any harm. Make yourself easy for I am feeling my trust in God and I feel confident He will take care of me and I will get out safe. Tell all my folks I am safe I will write as often as we can get mail off this leaves me in good health and spirits hoping it will find you the same I subscribe myself your affectionate
Soldier Son
Erastus Winters
The mail is going out so I will close.
I research items like this for clients, then sell them on commission on eBay. In addition to this letter, right now I have the post-war autograph of the Colonel of the 5th Maine Volunteer Infantry at First Manassas, among others. I'm not going to link them here in deference to TM, but if you're interested, you can PM me for the item numbers.
This is a 1864 letter from a Union soldier serving under Sherman in the early part of the Atlanta campaign, along with the transcription I wrote.
http://www.propnturret.com/images/ebay/wintersdallasga%20001.jpg
http://www.propnturret.com/images/ebay/wintersdallasga%20002.jpg
Here's the transcription (posting here loses the formatting, but you can still follow along):
Headquarters 50th O.V.I. in the field
Near Dallas, Georgia
May 31st, 1864
Dear brothers sisters Father and Mother.
I take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know I am still safe while I am sorry to say a great many others are not so well of[f]. I wrote a letter home from Cleveland Tennessee stating that we was going to the front. Well we started the next morning and came as far as Cass Station where we had a little fracas with Wheeler’s Rebbel Cavalry the captured 4 men out of our Regiment and burnt about 15 wagons that belonged to our Corps. We then fell back to Kingston and the Rebs retreated. We then started on here. Where we arrived 4 days ago and we have been engaged with the rebbels ever since that is in heavy skirmishing this morning the Rebbels Charged our works drove in our skirmishers in front of our Regiment and came on within 50 yards of our breast works and we opened a whole volley on them and drove them back. Co. K was then ordered to deploy as Skirmishers and drive them to their holes which we did with a yell. We repulsed them handsomely and drove them clear to their works. Colonel Elsner Tample(?) merited Co K very highly for their noble conduct but alas poor John Pauder and John Keloter(?) was killed and Joseph Carson
---------------------
was slightly wounded Wm Dean was wounded yesterday the doctor says Dean and Carson will get well.
I don’t know exactly what our Regt’s loss is but I will put it down as follows, although I know I over rate it. Six killed and about 15 wounded in this I think I over rate it. I expect you will see the correct amount in the papers but I have no time now to give you all the particulars. I will just say they charged on our whole line and they were driven back with great slaughter. The Rebs had a strong position here our forces are in their flanks. A few days more will tell the tale. I guess our Brigade will be sent to the rear tomorrow to rest for a few days as they have been in the front 4 days now. I thank God that my life is yet spared to enjoy health and prosperity. Do not feel alarmed about me for I will put my trust in god. Who is able to save us all. I received a letter from Phebe today but I am at a loss to to know who Little Candilla is. I hope you will explain yourself in your next letter. Write soon and direct it to Kingston Georgia 50 Reg O.V.I. Co K 2 division 3 brigade 23 army corp
---------------
There is a continual crack of muskets on the skirmish lines but what execution is done cant be told. There is very few of our men wounded on the skirmish lines the balls whistle over our heads all the time but we are laying behind breastworks and so they don’t do us any harm. Make yourself easy for I am feeling my trust in God and I feel confident He will take care of me and I will get out safe. Tell all my folks I am safe I will write as often as we can get mail off this leaves me in good health and spirits hoping it will find you the same I subscribe myself your affectionate
Soldier Son
Erastus Winters
The mail is going out so I will close.
I research items like this for clients, then sell them on commission on eBay. In addition to this letter, right now I have the post-war autograph of the Colonel of the 5th Maine Volunteer Infantry at First Manassas, among others. I'm not going to link them here in deference to TM, but if you're interested, you can PM me for the item numbers.