civil war letters - David K. Parks Military Antiques
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L-46
SOLDIER'S LETTER ON U.S. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION STATIONERY - Dated Nov. 11, 1864 written from City Point, Va. from a J.B. Hollaway (regiment unknown) to his wife in period ink. Mentions that he is having his quarters in 'one of the wards i.e. in big hospital tents' and that they are preparing winter quarters. Also writes that 'Well I suppose all you Republicans feel good as Old Abe is reelected. Good for that!'. Also mentions he is enclosing a ring that he made from a shell. Very good condition.
$ 55.
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L-39
LETTER DESCRIBES TOURS ON THE U.S. IRONCLAD SAUGUS AND THE CS IRONCLAD ATLANTA - Letter in ink, dated March 10, 1865 from the Defenses of Bermuda Hundred, Va - 5 pages. Signed only 'George' but believe he may have been a musician. The first 3 pages tend to be standard but beginning on page 4 it gets interesting. He describes taking a tour of the two ironclads listed above. Describes the guns on the monitor class Saugus and the fact that he crawled into the smallest of the two until he had to be helped out. Then he describes the Atlanta which was built like the Merrimac (Virginia) and how they went on deck in sight of the rebels and played 'The Star Spangled Banner', 'Hail Columbia', 'Yankee Doodle' and several more airs. He gives his thoughts on why the rebels did not try to fire on them. Interesting letter - Click on 'Additional Images' to read. Very good condition but has some separation at several of the folds.
Additional Images
SOLD
L-37
1837 WEST POINT CADET LETTER - COMPLAINS ABOUT SUPERINTENDANT - Dated August 30, 1837  3 pgs + West Point Postmark. Written by John T. Metcalf in period ink to Edwin Wright Morgan (class of 1837, Florida Indian Wars, Mex. War & Professor at Lehigh Univ.) initially complaining about the Super. but refers to him as 'Old Jack' which is a bit confusing as the Super. was Rene Edward De Russy. Goes on to mention other cadets that later became C.W. Generals. Very good condition. Full transcript shown in 'Additional Images'.
Additional Images
$ 110.
L-41
7TH CONNECTICUT INF. - FT. WAGNER -CARROLL E. KINGSLEY - A bit of confussion on this as it appears to be dated July ?, 1863 and he seems to write about the battle on the 11th which would make it Fort Wagner. He writes: "The battle of the 11th was a horred sight to see a fearful place to be altho we came forth unhurt how I dunit I cannot tell but thanks to the Gods of battles that he has spaired my life". Letter is in very good condition and has a stamped 7th Connecticut cover. Letter is written in period ink.
SOLD
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L-40
U.S. HOSPITAL - TURNER'S LANE, PHILADELPHIA - Believed to have been written by Charles A. Burnham of Co. C, 2nd New Hampshire Inf. on August 25 (1862) in ink from the above named hospital. He describes his duties as being in charge of the apothecary and dealing out the medicine. Among the text is "I hope our government has waked up to see that this rebellion can not be put down by playing war. We must go about as the south does before we can conquer." Letter is in very good condition.
Additional Images
$ 65.
L-25
3RD NEW HAMSHIRE INFANTRY - Written by Edmund S. Whittier, brother of George (letter L-24) to his mother on June 12, 1864 from Hatchie (?), Va. He writes; "George is on picket ... the rebs have been sheling most all this afternoon on one of our batterys but I expect every moment when we're as ___ of batterys will open on the rebs and they will ___ them". Other general information, etc. Not detailed like George's letter. Good condition.
$ 85.
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L-7
7TH NEW YORK CAVALRY - COL. MORRISON'S NORTHERN BLACK HORSE CAVALRY - Written by William M. Harris from Camp Stoneman, Dec. 6th, 1861 to his parents. Writes about the trip to Camp, that he can see the Camps of Berdan's Sharpshooters, the 4th Pennsylvania Inf., the 1st Michigan Inf. and an Illinois Cavalry Regt.. Also mentions that they have only received sabers but when fully equipped will have Sabers, Revolvers, Carbines and Black Horses. Mentions it is a slow job to drill Cavalry Horses. Period ink is dark and legible but letter is separated at all folds. Otherwise Good Letter.
Enlarge Image $ 90.
L-49
8TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY - DUNCAN McBAIN - Washington, Sept. 10, 1862 - " . . . well Elisa I went through some dainger since I herd from you. But the good lord saw it fit to spare my life yet we had hard time for the last 4 week our folk will never know what we went through & it is as well But all our boys are all right yet The Michigan 17 & 24 got here . . . I hop that this will soon be over one way or the other  we got licked like fun they drove us on this side of the potomac and then one hundred thousand . . . crossed ove in maryland . . . we are after those that crossed . . . the rebels are to frederick in maryland . . . ". signed D. McBain  Co. F    8 Mich Infantry. Good letter writing about the early Antietam campaign.
Additional Images $ 78.
L-50
McLAUGHLIN'S OHIO CAVALRY - Camp near Tonisa, Kentucky - January 29, 1863 - " . . . we expect to start on a three days scout tomorrow. We are all to be ready to start at seven in the morning. It will be a very disagreeabel tramp for it is very muddy . . . I got my likeness today I will send it to you for to keep till I come back if I am spared to return home . . . ". Signed C.P. Hughes. Letter is in very good condition and written in period ink. McLaughlin's Cavalry Squadron operated with the 43rd Ohio Inf at the battle of Middle Creek. They were also involved in the Seige of Knoxville and in the March to Atlanta.
$ 48.
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L-42
UNKNOWN REGIMENT - CAME WITH 149TH PA. (BUCKTAILS) GROUPING - BELIEVED TO ALSO BE PA. - Patriotic stationery 'United Forever' in red, white & blue. Written by Oliver W. Carterin Nov., 1862 from Camp Simons. Writes of the hundreds of white tents covering the land and the new recruits arriving that have not yet been clothed. Mentions waiting for orders in which they expect to go either to Hagerstown or to Minnesota (probably to fight the Indians from the uprising and massacres happening during that time). Letter has several rips and tears but no missing paper.
SOLD
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L-38
MEXICAN WAR LETTER - ACCEPTING APPOINTMENT - Dated Mar. 24, 1847 1 page written by Walton Ector (later became Colonel of the 13th Georgia Inf. during the Civil War) in Greenville, Georgia to Gen. Roger Jones accepting his appointment to Captain in the 13th U.S. Infantry, tells Jones about himself, corrects the mispelling of his name and tells of his plans to set up a recruiting office. Very good condition.
SOLD
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L-48
107TH OHIO INFANTRY - Written by John Geissler of Co. I on June 17, 1863 from Mount Pleasant Hospital in Washington, D.C. and unfortunately can't tell you much more other than it is written in German. He does mention 'Neger Regment' so would assume that there was something to do with black troops while he was in the hospital. Written on interesting patriotic stationery.
$ 52.
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L-43
16TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY - Dated Dec. 15, 1861 from Halls Hill, Va. written by William Simmons of Co. E, Stockton's Mich. Regt. (16th Mi). Three pages on patriotic stationery. Writes of his travel from Michigan to Washington, DC and what he sees when he arrives (Capitol, President's House, Arsenal, Etc.). He goes on to tell how the tents are set up, how they drill and are inspected. An interesting letter. Good condition in period ink but is half separated at center fold.
SOLD
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L-44
16TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY - Dated April 29, 1862 from Camp Winfield Scott written by William Simmons of Co. E, Stockton's Mich. Regt. (16th Mi). Simmons would later die of wounds received at 2nd Manassas. Writes of the regiment's movements till they arrived near Yorktown when he notes that they are so close to the Rebels that they can hear their bands playing at night and the pickets are so close they talk to each other. He mentions the shelling back and forth and how men are killed every day and heavy  siege guns that are drawn by thirty horses. Very good letter in good solid condition. Just some browning on some of the folds.
SOLD
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L-30
5TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY - From Chauncey Torrey to a friend dated Jan. 6, 1865 in 'Camp of the 5th Michigan Vet. Vol. Infantry'. Torrey starts the letter with not much to say as they are in winter quarters but then elaborates on a raid they participated in on Dec. 7, 1864 when they traveled about 75 miles burning every house and farm on the road. He mentions that some of the men were killed by citizens and that they hung one citizen for that. They also collected approximately two thousand negroes and plenty of citizens. Interesting letter, in very good condition and written in period ink.
Additional Images SOLD
L-47
CONSTRUCTION CORPS LETTER - Written by Oscar Comstock on June 3, 1864 from a Camp near Chickamauga, Tenn. An interesting letter in that he states he is not a soldier but is employed by 'Uncle Samuel' as a foreman of a squad of Railroad Bridge carpenters yet holds a position equal to a Lieutenant in the service. The men in his branch of service are called the Construction Corps. He mentions that they are in the 'Wilderness'. A country once beautiful and productive but recently desolated by the ravages of a cruel and devastating war. He might be along with the 22nd Mich. Inf. as there is a pencil notation on front page and mentions the village of Rochester which is where the 22nd was mustered around..
$ 65.
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L-17
50th NEW YORK ENGINEERS - Dated Sept. 18, 1863 in period ink on Engineer regimental stationery - Washington, D.C..  "... our forces have crossed the famous Rappanhannock and also the Rappidan and are now near Gordonsville where a battle is iminent but no telling how soon it may be fought ... ". Most of the rest of the letter he relates to 'Dear Agnes' how much he misses her. Very good condition on great stationery.
SOLD
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L-45
16TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY - BATTLE OF GAINES MILL, VA - Dated July 7, 1862 from Camp near James River written by William Simmons of Co. E, Stockton's Mich. Regt. (16th Mi). Simmons would later die of wounds received at 2nd Manassas. Terrific letter, writes of fighting till 10pm, 300 in the regiment killed or wounded, the Colonel killed (actually was captured), how the rebels had captured all their food, tents and clothing. They went back to the battlefield and through the woods to find the Confederate dead piled up like cords of wood and hearing the wounded crying out at night still on the battlefield. McClellan rides through every day and new troops are arriving. They can't wait to make the secesh pay for what they have done. Great solid letter in very good condition. Written in period ink.
SOLD
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L-19
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC MISSOURI CIVILIAN LETTER - PRO CONFEDERATE  - MENTIONS QUANTRILL !!!! - Undated, written by a woman in period ink on blue paper. This woman has serious feelings for the Confederacy. Some quotes include: "If I could only get to see my darling little angle (sic) rebel, bless his sweet little soul . . . the feds have gotten the best whipping the war got in their lives . . . Col. Quantrill is come to life again bless his sweet little soul he is in Jefferson County . . . have orders from General Price not to cross river . . . union dogs . . ." she just goes on and on!! Paper has some minor separations at some folds and toning on the folds of page 4.
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SOLD
L-20
5TH INDEPENDENT OHIO VOLUNTEER SHARPSHOOTERS - Dated June 18, 1865 from Nashville, Tennessee by Eugene Foskett - 4 pgs in period ink. Writes about doing guard duty at headquarters and normal camp events, getting apples and black raspberries.
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L-21
CONFEDERATE NORTH CAROLINA CIVILIAN LETTER WITH LETTER FOLDED AS COVER AND A CS-1 STAMP - Early January 30, 1862 letter written in period ink on blue paper writes about the cattle being driven and butchered for the army. Letter is folded to be it's own cover and has a CS-1 stamp hand "X" cancelled. Nice example of an early Raliegh, NC stamped cover / letter.
$ 185.
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L-22
9TH REGT. NEW YORK STATE MILITIA LETTER WITH REGIMENTAL COVER - Dated July 7, 1862 from Warrenton, Virginia. To his brother he writes that 'he has been to Front Roayal and Manassas, now at the Sulpher Springs of Warrenton, very aristocratic area and where Jeff Davis spends his last summer, doesn't think they will come this summer, there has been a change with the Generals again, Gen. Pope has been assigned the command of the Army of Virginia, we now have 3 army corps, Gen. Banks the first, McDowell the second and Siegle(sic) "the hero of the west"the third. We are in McDowell's corpse de armie, Gen. Ricketts is in command of our division while Hartstuff is still in command of our brigade'. Written in faded period ink, is unsigned but addressed to his brother George E. Stone on a 9th NYSM regimental stamped cover.
SOLD
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L-31
34TH NEW YORK INFANTRY - BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS - Dated June 6, 1862  4 pgs in period ink. Written by Frank Bailey of the 34th. Fantastic and detailed account of the ordeals the 34th encountered during the battle. Go to 'Additional Images' to read entire letter. Very good condition.
SOLD
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L-32
3RD NEW YORK LIGHT ARTILLERY - BATTLE OUTSIDE NEW BERN - Dated March 17, 1863  4 pgs with cover written in period ink. Written by H. Nesbit of the 3rd about a battle that takes place about nine miles from New Bern at a place called Deep Gulley on the Trent Road and their part in it. Good descriptive letter, see 'Additional Images' to read. Very good condition.
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SOLD
L-33
11TH MICHIGAN INFANTRY - BATTLE AT MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE - Dated January 21, 1863  8pgs in period ink written by L. Squire of the 11th. Good graphic details on the battlefield. Go to 'Additional Images' to read full letter. Very good condition.
SOLD
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L-28
29TH INDIANA INFANTRY - Written by John A. Berger from Camp near Tuscumbra, Ala on June 20, 1862. He writes; " Troops are still crossing the river but they don't appear to be in any hurry ... I don't see how the rebels are to hold out much longer if we get Richmond ... we have got the Miss river and Jackson and Memphis and most all other strong positions and when we get Richmond the Southern Confederacy is plaid out in my estimation if they undertake to carry out the ware longer they will brake up into small parties ... '. Letter is in good condition but is lightly soiled and has light ink.
Additional Images SOLD
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