A great war-date Union soldier's battle letter, in period ink, 4pp. large folio, written by Corp. Gilbert J. Stark [POW Big Black River, MS, 10/16/63], Co. B. 32nd Ohio Vols., "Camp in rear of Vicksburg, [Miss.], July 1, 1863," concerning the bloody battle which took place after Union forces exploded a mine dug under 3rd Louisiana Redan at Vicksburg on June 25, 1863. Stark goes into great detail concerning the assault and amazingly he was writing this very letter when a second explosion was detonated again at that very spot on July 1. He then continues and finishes the letter, but not before giving a good description of that battle as well! Stark enlisted in the 32nd as a private on August 6, 1862, was promoted corporal in January 1863 and was captured at Big Black River, Mississippi on October 16, 1863. After his exchange and return to his regiment he was discharged in June 1865. Minor soiling, else VG.

Text reads, in very small part:

"…[on the mine explosion of June 25, 1863]…we have had a good many wounded…we have been doing some very hard fighting…our fellows had tunneled through the ground until they had reached the side of the fort here. Fighting was continually going on. Our men dug under the fort 40 feet & put 19 hundred lbs of powder into it. We was drawn…into line of battle just in front of the fort. We was all watching for the explosion to take place at about 1/2 past 1 o'clock we saw the smoke coming out of the sides of the fort. In a moment the earth shook as if an earthquake was turning up the very bowels of the earth…one side of the fort was sent into the air & all the rebs…was sent higher than human gallows. Muskets could be sen as high as the clouds. Nothing was left of that side of the fort, but the row of sand bags that the rebs had on the inside of the fort. Our boys gave a yell that would have given credit to a band of Chocktaws & rushed for the fort. Hear we [had] hand to hand fight…our boys was on one side of the row of sand bags & the rebs was on the other. The rebs would raise their guns to shoot & our boys would catch hold of them & drag them from their hands. They would try to do the same to us. We did not go into the fort for fear that the rebs would blow it up…they had a cannon planted on the inside of the fort so near to our men that the smoke would puff right into their faces. The slaughter was terrible. The 45th Ill. [the Lead Mine Regiment] lost all of their field officers & 4 of their captains…other regiments lost as heavy, but not in officers. Both our men & the rebs threw shells over the sand bags by hand. They would burst among our men, tearing off legs, arms & perfectly mangling up their bodys…we done as much damage to the enemy as they did to us…we could constantly hear the groans of the wounded & the dying. We could hear them call to their comrades to carry them away. The sight was terrible. They would [?] over large shells. One of our fellows were sitting down, completely tired out, a shell rolled under his legs and exploded throwing each of his legs in different directions [and] tearing out his bowels…".

The letter then goes on to recall the second mine explosion that occurred on July 1, 1863 which actually occurred while he was writing the first half of this letter!

"…every time I…commenced fairly to write…the order came to fall in…the sun was scorching…the dust very deep…our guns would fairly burn our hands. We took our position close to the fort calculating…to charge on the fort, but they blew it up again. The explosion was not so loud as before, but it was more effective. It blew 4 rebs clear over to our lines. 2 were dead, 1 was badly wounded. The other I don't think is hurt much. It must of blew lots of the rebs to hell…our men will get important information from the one that is living. Our men did not advance as I had supposed…you spoke of the raid that Lee is making. I have heard huge storys about it…as for the Copperheads. I am astonished to think that men is so lost…every loyal man knows…the party that follows Vallandigham is…afraid to go to war…I am a Democrat & I believe in the principles of Democracy, but I would…hate myself to death…than vote a troy ticket…cannot the women of Ohio shame the men until they will do their duty…you spoke of Joseph…Kimball…he is not liked by anyone in the company…he has gambled away all…of his money…from your Brother Gilbert J. Stark…". Much more interesting content.

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