Civil War-dated ALS from Union soldier John W. Free of the 31st Ohio Regiment, signed “J. W. Free,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.75 x 9.75, May 4, 1864. Written from a "Camp near Ringgold, Georgia," a letter to Judge John Carey on behalf of his commanding officer, in part: "Since my return to my Regiment, I learn my Colonel Moses B. Walker has consented through the urgent solicitation of his friends to become a candidate for Congress in your district. I may feel somewhat partial to the Col. having served so long under him, but knowing your influence in the District with men of all parties, I feel like saying something to you about him which I hope you will consider as coming from a proper motive. The Col. was twice wounded at Chickamauga last September and has not yet entirely recovered from his wounds his spine was injured by a shell and his health is very poor, which will in all probability compel him to quit as his health will not bear him through with the labor he will do whilst on duty as a brave true and noble hearted soldier. He has no superior in this Army, his conduct at the battle of Chickamauga should hand his name down to prosperity as one of the first heroes of this war, When our lines were every where broken, and Major Generals & Brigadiers were flying from the field, Col. Walker stopped upon the memorable hill, (which should for ever bear his name), and amidst a storm of bullets and shells by his own personal daring, and words of fiery eloquence, soon rallied around him a body of men who throwing their lives upon their countries…after seven hours desperate fighting saved the day…As a scholar and a gentleman he is loved by all…he has the full confidence of his Brigade which he has commanded over two years." In fine condition. Moses B. Walker, an Ohio senator before the war, retired from the Army on February 19, 1866, and promoted to colonel on the regular army retired list five months later. In 1868, after losing an election to the US House of Representatives, he served as associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1869 until 1874.
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