There is a famous photo of Henry S. Figures, Company F of the 4th Alabama, showing Figures holding a foot long Bowie Knife and wearing a fine wide rim hat.  In the letter we are offering, Henry talks about that hat… he paid $30 for it.  Over the years we have had several Figures letters and kept this one because of the great content.  Figures is an excellent writer and this one is packed full of battle content!  By the way, you get a photocopy of Figures wearing that hat! 

The letter is written in pencil and is five pages long, on two different sizes of paper and is in very good condition.  It is nice and dark and easy to read (You can also frame it with the photo of Figures and not have to worry about ink fading!). 

The letter is headed, “Near Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 26, 1863”.  Henry is writing his mother.

·        “…Left this morning for Petersburg got there in two hours where I bought a hat for $30.00...”

·        “That night we were in hearing of the artillery.  Next morning we went about five miles and halted. 
The firing was very heavy.  Both artillery and musketry we laid until about 12 o’clock when we were
 ordered to go forward and drive the enemy.  We advanced about half-mile and halted again when a
 shell burst in the regiment and killed one and wounded two men.  Then we went in just as we got
where the bullets came around us pretty thick.  We saw McNairs, Tennessee Brigade running out. 
We were going to reinforce them.  Then we took the double quick and charged.  As we passed that
Brigade, a Lieutenant asked me what troops we were.  I yelled out, “Hood’s Division” as loud as I
could hollow.  They immediately formed and went back.  We drove the Yankees over a mile when it
was getting dark, so we halted for the night.”

·        “I got a splendid belt and scabbard from the Adjutant of the 9th Kentucky whom I captured.”

·        “Next morning we were put in again and drove them still further, and that evening we fought again. 
So you see we were fought three times, whipping them every time.  That evening ended the battle. 
They commenced falling back that night.”

·        “I was struck three times in the engagement, but my clothes were not cut either time… I thank our
heavenly father for it.”

·        We are not in three miles of Chattanooga in line of battle.  Most of the enemy have crossed the river,
but some are still in the town.  They made an attempt to cross last night, but we found it out and Gen.
 Bruckner’s Pickets moved on them and drove them from their breastworks.  Our troops now occupy
their first line of breastworks.  Do not be uneasy about me for they will not fight here.  All of them will
get cross the river tonight, I expect.  Bragg don’t want them to cross for as long as he can keep them
on this side, the weaker they get, for our cavalry is picking them up all the time.”

·        “…Hood has had his leg shot; got shot in the thigh and had to have it cut off, poor fellow.  He was the
 best general we ever had.  The Division liked him as a father.”

A wonderful Confederate Alabama letter!

#CG153 - Price $1,395