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Union Artillerist's Civil War Diary Union Artillerist's Civil War Diary including details from the t

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Union Artillerist's Civil War Diary Union Artillerist's Civil War Diary including details from the t
<B>Union Artillerist's Civil War Diary including details from the third day at Gettysburg</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Union Artillerist's journal, an excellent manuscript, likely kept by a member of the 1st Rhode Island light artillery,</B></I> approximately 175 pages, 4" x 6". A finely detailed diary which opens in the midst of the Battle of Chancellorsville and closes in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. The diary covers the road to Gettysburg, where the diarist was present for the third day as well as the pursuit of Lee south to the Potomac. In particular the diary includes vivid descriptions of the battles leading to Petersburg including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. The diary, here at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, reads in part: R<BR>"<I>The bal was opened by the rebels at half past 4. Our forces soon respond and the roar of artillery in unceasing for 2 hours and then it was quite till 11 o'clock when our guns open a fearful fire with artillery and is kept up till 2 P.M. this fire was the most terrific of anything of this battle and in fact the most rapid and terrific of anything I ever knew. we were ordered to the front at 1 o'clock and took up a position on the right, the firing was then severe,. the firing was brisk on the left from 5 P.M. till dark. The rebels try to break through on our right a 9 o'clock and between 12 and one....</B></I>". <BR><BR>His unit remained north of the Potomac for a few weeks following Gettysburg and then moved again into Virginia. Excellent content throughout. Bound in glue, original wraps missing, housed in an acid-free cover together with a slipcase with the mistaken attribution "<I>John Ridlon 7th Mine, Infantry</B></I>" Pages overall quite clean and bright. Comes together with a complete typed transcript. While the identity of the correspondent remains in question, there is little doubt that he was well educated and quite literate. From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.