124. UNION OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF SCOUTING IN SOUTH CAROLINA
A great first hand account written by Captain William H. Mickle of his brush with Confederate cavalry scouts in early 1865. During the Atlanta campaign, Mickle served on the staffs of Sherman, Hooker, and Alpheus S. Williams. As an aide on Williams' staff during Sherman's march through the Carolinas, Mickle barely escaped death and was nearly captured when he decided to join the "fun" on a scout against Gen. Wheeler's cavalry near Lawtonville, S. C. His post-war 11pp., 4to., account, reads, in very small part: "...Sherman's wonderful march to the Sea had just passed in to history...January 19, 1865 we started, Gen'l Williams with 20th Corps [and] crossed the Savannah river on pontoons...the river kept rising and there was no hope of moving the army as ordered...from the above date till Feb. 2nd we were doing our best to get our troops across the Savannah and united in South Carolina. Sherman was impatient at the delay and...ordered Genl Williams to advance...at Lawtonville Genl Wheeler had entrenched his position...to oppose our advance...our orders were to drive Wheeler out and open the way...I felt like going out with the Chief Scout and find our way to Lawtonville...we came to a barricade of rails across the road...on either side of the road Wheeler...had slashed down the Pine trees to obstruct our march...tracking our enemy quietly...we came to another plantation. ...the Scout remarked to me, 'we're getting pretty far ahead of our column, and [are] the only Yankees in sight,'...scarcely had this conversation ended...[when] I...saw there were a dozen horses hitched to the picket fence and a Scout of Wheeler's pacing the verandah with a carbine on his shoulder. Suddenly the door opened and out came the troops rushing for their horses. One...Scout made for me...unslinging his carbine...looking back...I saw the whole band following...my horse became greatly excited at the race and the firing and leaped over a fallen tree with his...limbs striking in the air... I had my Colts Navy revolver in my hand...my left foot [came] out of the stirrup and ripping my pants in the outside seams of the legs from the hip to my boots...the 'Johnnies' were making their way...to cut us off...while the man on the chestnut sorrel was coming...reaching the fence he 'cleared' it-ditch and all landing in the road...Wheeler's men did not follow far...knowing Sherman's army must be near. About a half-mile...I met six...sharpshooters with heavy repeating rifles...the six men were on foot, so I had time to fix my garments...and march...with them before attacking Wheeler's men...we came in...sight of the 'Johnnies' we sent them through...unhorsing two of them...the others skedaddling out of sight on toward Lawtonville...we went on...to the plantation where Wheeler's men started after us. I dismounted and went into the house...I found an elderly lady and her daughter at home...the table was daintily set...I inquired, who her guests were...she replied, ' Mr. Wheelers Scouts.' I asked her if she had any objection to our eating it and she said...'we don't care who eats it'...Lighting out from the plantation...suddenly crack! crack! went the carbines of Wheeler's scouts and they made a dash toward us...my horse became excited...and dashed...unhorsing me and knocking off my hat. I held on to the outer rein and kept him from getting away...the six sharpshooters...hustled our antagonists...back into the main line of Wheeler's Cavalry...when our work was done...as scouts, and we were waiting for the General...I sat...by the roadside feeling my bruises...when the Chief of Artillery, John A. Reynolds...said to me, 'Mickle, I wouldn't go out in this way. Scouting and exposing yourself needlessly, it is not in your line of duty and if you should get killed...people would have no sympathy for you'...for a time I kept to the strict line of my duties...but...the temptation to the excitement of Scouting was too great and a few times after this I indulged in the 'Fun'..." Much more interesting content. Toned with some paper loss, else very good. $400-500