99. BATTLE OF THE CRATER A good war-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. folio and oblong 8vo., in ink by Capt. Webster Smith 6th New York Hay. Artillery, "Camp 6th N. Y. H. Arty, Aug. 10, 1864", to Lt. Col. Edmund Travis concerning the battle of the Crater and the explosion at City Point and of the regiment's contempt for Major Edward Jones. In part: "...I understood that Jones claimed that he and [Col. J. Howard] Kitching were not on speaking terms, but you know all about this show...he [Jones] of course aspires to the Lt. Colonelcy...You know the feeling in regard to this matter in the Regt...I would not like to have him pelted with eggs-on acct. of the disgrace to the...[of] the affair before Petersburg on the morning of July 30th...we were marched from camp at 2 o'clk fully expecting to participate in the struggle...we were told that 'the mine was to be sprung at 3 a. m...of which every gun and mortar would open...with musketry along the whole line and...the Ninth Corps would assault to be followed by the 18th A. C. and we would file in after them...and also support the left.' We halted in the railroad cut, our right resting at the entrance of the covered way...all were at their posts. The fuse was extinguished twice, thereby delaying operations until a few moments past 4 a. m. when the works vibrated with the fearful explosion...the roar of the artillery was deafening...our position was between our arty & that of the enemy. Brooker, Pratt, Romer and others in rear of us kept the air full of howling missiles...making a perfect Bedlam. The mine was a complete success...the charge too was a success...the party hurriedly occupying the 2nd line of the Rebel works but soon the Enemy massed their troops and charging on our little band with desperate determination...and at this time captured a goodly number. I do not know why a sufficient force...was not forwarded but the day closed without...success...a 'court of inquiry' is being held to ascertain the parties at fault...our Div. returned to camp shortly afternoon...the plan on the part of Grant was most admirably conceived...picket firing is continued on our right and I am truly tired of the sound. 'Adam's Express' building was blown up yesterday...one portion of it was used as a...magazine and an ordnance boat at the wharf was first blown up caused by the explosion of a percussion shell...25 are reported as killed and about as many wounded...". Unfortunately, for Major Jones he was fatally wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864. Much more interesting content. Light soiling, else very good. $300-400