Lot 57 email save

Good Content Letter on 4th Alabama Casualties, Smal

Sign In to see what this sold for

Autograph Letter Signed, "Hugh S. Gookin" who had service in the War Department and with the 3rd Local Defense Infantry defending Richmond in the spring of 1865, 6p. quarto, on "Confederate States of America, War Department" lettersheet, Richmond, Virginia, December 29, 1862, and reads in part: "...This evening I heard that Sam Moore, Sphinx Beard, and other members of Co. H, 4th Ala. Regt. had yielded up their lives in their country’s cause. Sam Moore was killed at the last Battle of Manassas. Although being sick at the occurance of the battle and in opposition to the entreaties of his Captain, he joined his comrades in the coming bloody affray which resulted in his death. The Standard-bearer a young man by the name of Lyttle James was struck dead, and as the flag of that old Regiment was about to fall to the dust, Sam Moore caught it, hoisted it to the breezes again, and while in the act, his spirit vended its way to try the realities of another world. But sadder still was the fate of Sphinx Beard. Notwithstanding he yielded up his life for his country’s good not more willingly than Moore, still the circumstances attending that sacrifice are more touching. He bled and died on foreign soil, and now his remains lie buried on the historic field of Sharpsburg, perhaps by the side of some detested Yankee, in resisting whom his spirit soared above....You speak of the demoralizing effects that have been brought to bear on your since entering the service, and presume that I, on account of the seclusion of my position, do not experience or see such effects. True, I have not personally been demoralized I hope, but judging from the atrocities fame and changed fame of this once well-regulated place, you will admit, that such effects are not foreign to my position. Here are collected the riff-raff of creation, scoundrels and pestilent, scury fellows of every clime, and in fact the floating population of the country. Garroters flourish in the fullest freedom, gambling is carried on at a most fearful and ruinous extent, and corruption in every shape and form revels in full sway, evades law and defies its penalties...The incorrigible result of war (or rather effects of it) is, that famine and disease follow in its footsteps, and our case has not been made on exception in this respect....Small pox in its worst state is raging throughout the entire limits of this city, and three-fourths of the patients die with this most horrible of diseases. If it makes its appearance amongst our armies in the field, against which every precaution is used, it would be as fatal to our noble soldiers as are the showers of leaden hail they so frequently encounter...If Genl. Bragg did not accomplish a great deal of good by the manner of his raid into Kentucky, how much more did Genl. Lee attain by the peaceful manner in which he conducted his campaign in Maryland. He gave the most stringent, rigid protection to the property of Unionists who closed their doors on our hungry, naked soldiers; while they not only make war upon the leaders and supporters of the Rebellion, but murder in cold blood old men, women, and children, burn houses, destroy crops and lay waste to our lands. A day of retribution will come, and I hope it may come soon..." About VG.

View Raynors' Historical Collectible Auctions next auction.

Similar lots up for auction