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THBCSA Pvt. E.D. Cheatham, 48th Georgia Infantry, 2 ALsS, Including Reference to Battle of Spotsylvania
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveJun 13, 2014 - Jun 14, 2014
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Two ALsS from E.D. Cheatham, one to his brother, dated May 30, 1863, and the other to his mother, May 19, 1864.
Eli D. Cheatham was born in Jefferson County, GA (southwest of Augusta) ca 1833. He enlisted in the Georgia 48th Infantry, Company E, as a Private on April 28, 1862. Cheatham’s brothers John and Ed fought with Eli for the 48th Georgia. He participated in several major engagements and was wounded at Gettysburg and Petersburg. The second wound proved to be fatal. Cheatham died at Petersburg on June 25, 1864.
The 48th Infantry was organized in the winter of 1861-62 at Camp Davis in Macon, GA. It was comprised of volunteers from Burke, Glascock, Warren, Richmond, Jefferson, Emanuel, and Harris counties in Georgia. They were ordered into service in Virginia as part of the Army of Northern Virginia, and their first assignment was in the defense of Richmond. From there, they fought in some of the fiercest battles of the war at Mechanicsville, the Peninsula Campaign, Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the overland Campaign, Petersburg, and Appomattox, where they surrendered. At Gettysburg, the 48th lost over one half of its men in battle. The Regiment suffered the loss of 54 killed, 65 wounded, 38 wounded and captured, 43 captured, and 4 deserted. Col. William Gibson was wounded and left on the field. Five of six captains were lost. Eleven lieutenants out of seventeen were lost. The regimental colors were shot down seven times.
In the first letter, Cheatham is writing shortly before Gettysburg from Guineas Station VA. He had been having difficulty with a leg injury that…will never get well again. He writes, Our Brigade is under marching orders and…I understand the whole of Gen. Lee’s army is under marching orders. I do not know what I shall do for I am not able to march on my leg but a little but I shall do the best I can…I hope the Good Spirit will still be with us. There is no doubt that God has blessed a great many and will bless others yet...if we should never meet [again] on earth let us all…meet in heaven where wars, sorrows, troubles and parting are not known. He signs the letter, I remain your true brother till death yours truly.
In his second letter, Cheatham writes while he is engaged in the battle of Spotsylvania. The war had not been kind to the men of the 48th. In the letter, he lists many friends and relatives who had been wounded or died. As the battle raged on, Cheatham tells his mother, We are looking to be engaged any hour, both day and night [we] hear the pickets shooting often. We will have to go on picket tonight…Cheatham continues to express his faith in God as he tells her, My Dear Mother, I do not want you all to be uneasy about us all, we are in the hands of God, let his holy will be done. He clearly saw the dark promise of the future as he concludes the letter, I hope we will all be spared to meet again on earth but if not on earth let us all meet in heaven where all is lovely.
Both letters handwritten in Ink. The letter to Cheatham's mother is 7 x 9 in., folded to 4 pages, and the letter to his brother is 9 x 14 in., folded to four pages. Both are in very good condition.Condition
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