Description:

UNION SOLDIER'S LETTER WITH MENTION OF THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER
A.L.S. of Pvt. John C. Miller of Battery K, of the 3rd New York Light Artillery, "Camp in the field near Petersburg, Va.", July 31, 1864 writing on the action in the opening months of the Siege of Petersburg. Writing one day after the disastrous Battle of the Crater, Miller writes, in part: "...after the famous move of the Army from Richmond to Petersburg our Battery went in the advance under Brig. Gen. Hinks helping to take the Rebel forts and Entrenchments on the Right of the Appomattox and ever since the Battery occupies a fortified position hardly 3/4 of a mile from Petersburg, whilst the Rebels are holding a double l line of strong fortifications on the other side of the River including the Railroad between Petersburg and Richmond with Engines and Cars running nightly upon it, whatsoever destructions our Cavalry made the Rebs soon repair it again and keep it in running Order. Yesterday the 30th we had a most terrific Cannonading and fire of small arms throughout the whole line from Bermuda Hundred to the extreme left. -- Rumor says that Burnside on our left, made a charge taking two Rebel lines and that two Rebel forts being undermined by Grant's Order were blown up [the Crater]...Our Battery is in a tight Place, with the Rebel Sharpshooters not more than 30 Rods in our front and their entrenched line of Battle not more than 40 Rods distant, besides 2 of the enemies mortars are throwing their shells in our works and two of their forts are raking us traversely, but by the mercy of God, we have not lost a man killed, but one had his arms blown off, one shot through the hand and an other through the Arm. --Our horses, drivers, limbers and Caissons are two miles in the rear, food and ammunitions are conveyed to us under cover of night...". With the original transmittal envelope. Usual folds, else very good.

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July 22, 2011 11:30 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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