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539

George Gear Archive

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:0.00 USD
George Gear Archive
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Truly unique and spectacular archive of George R. Gear who served in the 39th Ohio Infantry, Co. B. Lot includes 145 soldier letters -- many journal-like -- and two diaries, all war dated between 1862-65. An observant and articulate man with an eye for detail, Gear captures all aspects of the war, from skirmishes with guerrillas, numerous battles and interacting with the locals. Upon returning home in 1865, Gear would become Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Marietta. Following the Battle of Iuka on 19 September 1862, Gear wrote a long letter describing the battle, beginning with the sight of William S. Rosecrans ride up to tell the men that they were surrounding Sterling Price’s Confederates: ''About 4 o’clock we came in sight of a fine house together with numerous outbuildings, all of which were wrapped in flames. Our men had been fired upon from it, and one wounded and this was the punishment. We were now about five miles from Iuka. We had moved forward but a short distance when we heard the cannon booming about 3 miles in front of us. After moving forward a short distance farther we stopped and loaded our guns and our colonel gave us words of caution in regard to firing low. The firing became more and more distinct until finally there was but one continual roar of muskets…Soon the balls began to whistle over our heads and fall in front and rear of us in a manner that was anything by comfortable. Two or three balls rushed past quite near me. It was a trying position. Without any chance to return fire we were compelled to stand there in presence of danger…'' Gear continues for pages about the arrival of night, taking friendly fire from the 17th Iowa Infantry, the confusion of preparing for the battle in the morning, a wounded soldier groaning and crying out all night, and more. In the morning, they discovered Price had retreated, leaving behind the dead and wounded: ''The dead lay strewed on every hand. Some of them were horribly mangled; one having part of his head shot away; one being shot in the side and weltering in gore. The secesh were without uniforms and their dead presented a peculiar ghastly appearance; said to be the effects of whiskey and gunpowder which was they mixed as a stimulating drink…'' His account of the Battle of Corinth is equally long and detailed. ''I had scarcely [turned] around before a shell came whizzing over my head, soon followed by others, thick and fast. We immediately fell flat to the ground, and lay in that position about 20 minutes, while the shells flew over and around us, accompanied by grape shot. We lay behind a little embankment and were thus protected considerably so that not one of our company, but a number in the regiment were wounded. Soon however the rebel battery was silenced and it was captured and brought in by the 63rd Regiment, who were out on picket. This was the first time I had ever heard the whizzing of shell, but I never shall forget it. It has a very peculiar mournful sound that is well fitted to inspire terror…[the battle begins, he provides a rough sketch of their position.] The enemy advanced the whole length of the line simultaneously…The cross fire from [a battery to their left] was directly over our heads, and as it was necessary to fire quite low in consequence of the short range, we were nearly as great danger from our own guns as from those of the enemy. In fact I think that some of our own shell passed nearer to me than those of the enemy. The grape, canister, and shell from our guns mowed down the advancing enemy like grass, but on still they came, driving back our line on the right until finally they obtained possession of battery c and were in the very edge of town. Soon however, our men rallied, and the enemy was driven back in confusion. The battery was again gained, and the grape and canister flew with redoubled vigor, making fearful havoc in the ranks of the now running enemy…'' On picket at Iuka, 30 October 1863, he described a typical skirmish: ''This morning as we were about to leave for camp, news came that a squad of rebels had made their appearance just in front of us, and we were requested to remain, which we did. Pretty soon, bang bang bang, went the guns of one of our outposts just ahead of us. We immediately formed a line and waited for them to make their appearance just across an open field in front of us. Pretty soon they made their appearance, and our skirmishers let fly at them. The rebs returned the fire and whiz zzz zip went the balls around our head and at our feet. We skirmished with them for a while, and reinforcements coming upon our side they soon retreated and disappeared…'' In Grand Junction, Gear records attending a Negro prayer meeting after growing bored with the white preacher: ''One darkey took the lead. He made a pretty good prayer, then was some singing, and then he made a few remarks. The manner of speaking was -- I can say nothing less than -- awful. One moment his voice would be a perfect yell, at the next he would speak scarcely above a whisper. He was very wandering in his remarks, but there was evident sincerity about him, and the burden of his talk was Jesus, come to Jesus. Very many of these Negroes are religious, and although their manner of conducting services is rude, there is probably as much sincere piety among them as among some more favored…'' On a foraging expedition in Alabama, he provided a humorous story of meeting the locals. ''I went into a house and talked a while with the inhabitants. There was one young woman who talked quite intelligently, and was passably good looking; but even if I were generally disposed to fall in love at first sight, there was one thing that obviated all danger in this case. It was nothing but seeing her eject occasional mouthfuls of tobacco juice. Two or three of the women had never seen an American flag. They belonged to the class known as 'poor whites.' Said to them a laboring man is as much respected in the North as a rich man. They replied that it was not so here, that a laboring man was looked upon with contempt. But, said they, things are altered now. Poor folks are beginning to look up. It is the rich who are the helpless ones now. Their slaves are gone and they will be compelled to work. It will be a hard task for many of them who have never learned to do anything…'' Gear also had occasion to interact with Confederate prisoners, guarding a large group who had been taken at Vicksburg: ''We mingled amongst them freely and I learned considerable from some of them. Perhaps you have never seen a lot of secesh soldiers. If you have not you can hardly appreciate the dirty, filthy, motley look that they present. They are dressed in every manner of clothes mostly looking as though they had seen neither water nor soap for months. They have some excuse, however, for their dirty appearance. Their Government furnishes them no soap, and #11 a month will not buy many extras in rebeldom. One of them told me that he had paid $5 for a bar of soap in Vicksburg…Our boat is very much crowded. They are crowded thick everywhere, on the bow, in the engine room, on the boiler deck and hurricane roof. We reserved the cabin to ourselves, and thus managed to keep somewhere near clean, but the dirt and filth amongst the prisoners was horrible. In fact it was outrageous to crowd so many men on one boat, for nearly two weeks as they were crowded…'' Several other letters describe the prisoners, the dismay in the south and poor morale in the southern army, with Gear remarking that the rich planters wanted to fight on, but the sinew of the army was the poor white man who had had enough. On picket one night in Alabama, he writes of meeting speaking with locals: ''I said…how is it that nearly all the Union men have turned secessionist since. He said that it was because of their belief in the heresy of State rights that they owed their allegiance to their state rather than the United States. He also told me that such original Union men who are turned secessionists, are now the most bitter ones and hold out longest, whilst those who were the original rabid ones are the first to profess Unionism after our troops come in. 'In fact,' said he, 'I have seen so many instances of professed Unionism in your presence, that I am almost ashamed to own myself a Union man, lest I be classed with them.''' During the buildup to the Assault on Kennesaw Mountain, he wrote: ''Rebel pickets are distant but 250 or 300 yards. Firing is constantly going on. My post is behind a big log. We excavate a hole with our bayonets, which together with the log gives us excellent protection. Many bullets come near us, but none hit our log. Occasionally we catch sight of a Johnny. For the first time I fire my gun towards a rebel. During the day fire 25 rounds. There is a excitement in this firing back and forth which inspirits a man but which is very enervating if long kept up. It was a great relief to get out of range of bullets again…A shower of balls greets us. On we sweep, with a terrible yell, stopping not for the leaden storm.'' Gear is tripped by brush and falls behind his company, but regains his footing to take part in the capture of the rebel position. On the Battle of Atlanta: ''About 12 M we are in readiness expecting soon to go forward and occupy the rebel works. Suddenly skirmishing is heard in our rear and on our flank. What does it mean? Can they have outflanked us? Soon there is heard a yell. Evidently the Rebs are on our flank. Speedily comes the orders to move double quick. We move into an open field and form quickly in line of battle. The skirmishing is rapid and rapidly approaching us. The 2nd Division of our Corps is already in line on our left, it being providentially on the move when the firing began. The skirmishing is now replaced by a steady roar of muskets. Soon the rebel line appears coming out of the woods in front of the 2nd Division. Boldly they charge with a defiant yell. They are met with grape shot and canister from our batteries, and a rapid fire of musketry. Gallantly the rebels come on however, boldly waving their flags, and part of our lines waivers for a moment. Soon they begin to give back. Then with a loud cheer the 2nd Division charges after them and a large number of the rebels are captured, together with several stands of colors…'' Gear continues in a similar style as the 39th is engaged and hit hard, but emerging victorious. Other letters describe the action near Jonesboro, and Lovejoy Station, along with incidents such as the mass desertion of about 250 men from Alabama and Tennessee, complete with their arms and officers, fired upon by Confederates as they did so, and returning fire. A few letters written on foraged Confederate paper (as Gear noted with some satisfaction), the small pocket diaries are worn and splitting at hinge, with some pages loose, but most letters in very good condition. A fantastic opportunity to acquire a large and comprehensive collection of high literary quality.
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