American History: Premier Auction

Map by Asher & Co., Indianapolis, IN, printed 1862, 26.25 x 36.25 in. (sight), professionally framed to 35 x 45 in. Accompanied by a smaller frame containing a war-date letter, leather wallet, and typed sheet containing information regarding the soldiers of the 100th Indiana mentioned in the letter. Letter is 2pp, dated [no month] 25th, 1863, at Collier Ville, TN, from an ailing Private William St. John, addressed to his family, transcribed by his comrade Amos. R. Sewell. St. John relates that he is ill and updates his parents on the status of others from his hometown. He had enlisted in Co. G on August 16, 1862, and HDS lists him as dying in November 22, 1863, just three days before the 100th took part in the Battle of Missionary Ridge, where 18 of its men were killed. 

The 100th Indiana Infantry left Fort Wayne for Memphis in November 1862, where it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Tennessee. Their first expedition was to Vicksburg, but they were forced to turn back following the Confederate capture of Holly Springs and assigned to guard the railroad at Collierville, TN, where Private St. John penned the letter included here. In June they were again ordered to Vicksburg to participate in the siege, and afterward moved to Jackson before being sent back to Memphis and assigned to the 4th Division, XV Corps. Private St. John was with them at that point and appears to have died on their trek through northern Alabama on their way to Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The regiment was later assigned to the Atlanta Campaign and was engaged numerous times on its way to Savannah.