CIVIL WAR LETTERS

CIVIL WAR LETTERS 1860 - 1865

Letter from Cold Harbor
June 9, 1864

"...left out camp at Bermuda Hundred on the 28th...next morning went down the James River and up the York and Pammunkey (sic) to White House landing where we arrived June 1st...we came to our present position near Gaines Hill (Mill) on the north side of the Chiakohominny (sic) River between Gaines Hill (sic) and Mechanicksville (sic) about 7 or 8 miles from Richmond...Richmond will be taken by Seige (sic)..." This letter, from Captain Linus R. Clark of the Union Army under General Smith, was written days after the Cold Harbor event which forced Grant to rethink his strategy on the taking of Richmond by turning the army's attention toward Petersburg. The losses in this battle were some of the gravest in the war with 7,000 Union soldiers dead by day's end, not counting the 5,000 casualties of the 1st and 2nd of June. Confederate losses were minimal by comparison. 3 written pages, letter has some minor wear at folds, very readable, and in very nice condition.

Click Image for complete letter content.

Soldiers Letter - Virginia; November 4, 1863

Four pages- Full of varied camp news. Many from Reg't have "gone to Washington to get examined for Commissions for the Negro Reg'ts." and a lot have applied for transfer to Artillery. Reg't is down to 353 and Company has only 32 men. He writes about the Army organization and spells out the chain of command- His company is commanded by Capt. Fox, Reg't by Col. Connor and they are in the 3rd Brigade. (Col. Chamberlain), 1st Division(Gen. Griffen) of the 5th Army Corps (Gen. Sykes). He can't understand how rebels can keep on as he reads in the paper how hard up they are for things - now it's shoes. "They have taken all the boots and shoes in Richmond for the Secesh (Secessionist) Army." Much more about mustered for pay, their nice campsite, etc... Very interesting content - some small breaks at folds.

Click Image for complete letter content.

Soldier's Letter - Co. H, 136th Reg't N.Y. Vols.
Camp near Brook's Station Va.

February 28, 1862 - Four pages - Excellent camp news letter telling all about his activities and a soldier's life in camp - drill, inspections, payroll musters, battalion drill, much detail about their rations, marches, and a good description of their "shanty" for five, its measurements and contents, describes his bed as made with "Uncle Sam feathers" (pine boughs) - It is in pencil and front page is written with a different light pencil, wearing at folds, but all readable.
Exceptionally good camp news content. This religious soldier must have been well educated as there are very few spelling errors and his use of punctuation is far better than most letters of the times.

Click Image for complete letter content.

Soldier's Letter - Fort Page
November 11, 1862

Co. D, 100th Reg't., N.Y. Vols - 3 pages
Camp news from a site on the York River, opposite Yorktown. Tells of picket duty, receiving a fife to play in the drum corps, and a deep reconnaisance mission his company went on to capture a Rebel spy. He believes they will make winter quarters there and describes their Sibley tent set-up and artillary quarters . . . "twelve pieces of cannon mounted, six pieces of artillery and six brass howitzers...
Nicely written in ink - Very Good condition

Click Image for complete letter content.

Soldier's Letter from Florida

"...We have got a very nice camp...have not had No fite yet nor I ges we shant very son (soon) Soldiering is very hard Bout not any harder than is expected We live very good for soldiers Better than we have before...". This letter is written in a phonetic style typical of most soldiers in the Civil War. It is a short but touching letter to what appears to be his lady friend, Emma Hubbard. Dated March 31, 1862 and signed by an Alfred Ford of the 90th regiment NYSV Company E. On military type folded paper, 3 written pages, with colorful soldier/flag logo. Overall in wonderful condition. Would look absolutely terrific framed.

Click Image for close-up and complete letter content.

Letter from Camp
near Bermuda Hundred (Petersburg)
Nov. 24, 1864

"...We have had a brush with the rebs almost every night. We have lost some of our neeadest neighbors in the frey... They were either killed or taken prisoners together with 7 more of our Co. on last thursday night...Well I must now go on batallion drill. Well drill is over and I thought I would write you a few lines more..."

The way he breaks his letter while he leaves for Batallion drill and then returns to finish his letter creates a strong visualization that could not be possible had it not been so unintentional. This letter was written in the last months of the war near Richmond and Petersburg which determined the final outcome with Lee's surrender at Appomatox. It is pressed with the original envelope in an attractive thick acrylic display. It is penned in strong ink, and makes a nicely displayed momento from the battlefield of the Civil War.

Click Image for complete letter content.

June 20, 1864
Bermuda Hundred / Petersburg

4 pages - ". . . landed at Bermuda Hundred Landing the evening of the 14th. . .marched to the Point of Rocks on the appomattox River. . .crossed on a Pontoon Bridge and Started in the direction of Petersburg. there were 2 divisions of the 18th corps about 12,000 men and a Brigade of negroes . . . we laid till 6 Oclock in the evening waiting for a part of Grants army to come

up to our assistance...ours was the first Regiment in, and in half an hour our forces had taken their entire line . . . I think Richmond will be ours very soon . . . Grant holds all the railroads leading south from Petersburg. Lee has fallen to the north side of the stream neither (sic) army occupies the city now but we can occupy it any time we wish the last move of Grants army is one of the greatest successes of the war. . ." This wonderful letter is from a Captain Linus Clark of the Union army. It is from one of the most historic battles of the Civil War, the taking of Petersburg, which paved the way to Richmond. Filled with a first hand account of this event, it reads exactly like historical reports of this famous seige.

Click Image for complete letter content.