The venerable 123^rd New York was one of those East meets West regiments that saw the elephant in both major theaters. Sergeant Rice Bull of Company D can certainly attest to that, having been wounded in the throat and both hips at Chancellorsville on the infamous May 3^rd day of battle and subsequently captured.

He enlisted on 8/13/1862 at Fort Ann, NY as a Private and mustered into Company D the next day. He made corporal on 9/4/1862 and Sergeant on 5/28/1864.

A few months after Gettysburg, the 123^rd and the rest of their Corps were bound for the Western Theater where their combat experience would be extensive.

Rice penned this remarkable letter to his brother from the offensive breastworks facing the Atlanta defenses on August 24, 1864.  The content focuses on the ongoing realities of the Atlanta Campaign as a member of Sherman’s Army, some details brutal.

Referring to constant firing while on picket duty, he says, “Since we have been here 3 of our Regiment have been killed in this way.  One from Granville and from Greenwich and the other from Salem (,) all good soldiers and good men.  Heavy siege pieces have been mounted all along our lines and are continually throwing shell into the city, deserters who come in say that there is hardly a house in the city that have escaped the shells. Sherman has been trying to swing the right onto the Macon R.R. but has been foiled in every attempt. The enemy are heavily fortified down as far as the West Point Junction and have not the men to go as far as that even.”

He goes on to detail Sherman’s grand plan to end the siege by maneuvering portions of the army into positions to force a fight or a hasty retreat.  “To do this the 20^th Corps will go back to the Chattahoochee and hold communications to it the other six Corps will take 20 days rations March to the rear of Atlanta and then Hood has his choice “fight or run…” An order for this move was sent to Corps Commanders for to commence the movement about a week ago and then countermanded. “the enemy found it out”. In the morning they commenced shelling furiously and advanced expecting to find empty works, but they found the “Yanks” and went back in a hurry.”  Further mentions of General Slocum and Army politics are noted, as well as a veiled compliment of General Hooker.

A post script, written above the heading in pencil reads “I got the handkerchief it was just what I wanted. Send me papers once in a while and put a lead pencil in one of them”.

He survived Atlanta, the March to the Sea, the Carolinas Campaign, and Bentonville - and was Mustered Out on 6/8/1865 at Washington, DC.

The letter has very nicely done repairs along the separated fold edges, looking to be of conservation quality Japanese fiber paper and wheat starch paste. The original cover is included with the letter, addressed to Rice’s brother in West Granville, Washington County, New York and return details with Rice’s name and unit are inked along the left side of the cover.  A 3-cent stamp and Nashville postmark are mostly complete at the upper right corner.

As Civil War letters go, the frontline combat content of this example is truly unique.  This is an absolute gem for the collector of the common soldier’s perspective, with the evocative context of having been written during action by a once-wounded, former POW.   [cm][ph:L]

Inquire About EXTRAORDINARY 123rd NY BATTLE LETTER – BREASTWORKS, NEAR ATLANTA – EX-GREG COCO COLLECTION