A Confederate Soldier Drowns At The Outset Of The Gettysburg Campaign

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006

A good war-date Confederate soldier's, 2pp. 8vo., letter written in ink by Pvt. James W. Moore, Co. E, 8th Virginia Infantry, New Kent C. H., Va., June 12, 1863 to his sister concerning the drowning of a comrade at the outset of the Gettysburg Campaign, reading, in part: "… we have some bad news. Mr. [T. J.] Walker…through misfortune got drowned yesterday evening. We had just done some drilling. He was with us ten minutes before he was drowned. He…and one or two others was washing in the river. One of the boys saw him as he was coming up the first time and went to help him…the one that was drowned got hold of the other and come near drowning him. We have not got him out of the water yet and I don't know whether we will get him or not. We have got orders to be ready to march at a moments notice…I would be glad to get him and send him home it wound be some consolation to his family…I can't get a furlough…I remain your friend until death…". Moore enlisted in July 1861 and was wounded at the battles of Gaines Mills and Second Bull Run before becoming a POW at Farmville on April 6, 1865. During the battle of Gettysburg he participated in Pickett's Charge as a member of Garnett's Brigade. A negligible vertical tear is archival repaired with some soiling, else very good.

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