Confederate Soldier Shot Through the Bladder

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

Small archive of seven items, 1864-66, pertaining to Private Duncan McRa, Co E SC 2nd Infantry, Connors Brigade, who was wounded at a battle near Strasburg, VA. The SC 2nd participated in, among other battles, 1st Bull Run, 1st Manassas, Cold Harbor, Sharpsburg, Malvern Hill and Gettysburg. McRa enlisted 15 March 1862 at the age of 24. The archive includes three part-printed surgeon signed documents from General Hospital, Columbia, S.C., Dec. 1864-April 1865. 3 x 8”, octavo, and quarto. One (quarto) notes that McRa is “permanently disabled for field service in consequence of a gun shot wound through the bladder injuring the pubis and ischium” The document has extensive splitting on horizontal folds, affecting a few words, but overall meaning intact. Plus; 1p., manuscript, folio, DS, “J J Drakeford”, Nov. 15, 1864, Station Near New Market, VA, containing description and clothing account of Private McRa. Plus; part-printed signed pass, Feb. 15, 1865, Headquarters, Columbia S.C. for Mrs. McRa and family. Plus; ALS, 1p., quarto, April 20, 1865, Nitre Mining Bureau, Columbia, signed “John LeConte”. [John LeConte (1818-91) Professor of Physics, was the first faculty member, 1869, UC Berkeley.] Sent to Duncan McRa, it reads in part, “You are hereby ordered to proceed down the River in the flat-boat belonging to the C.S. Nitre and Mining Bureau to ‘Spring-Grove Landing‘ and there take charge of the supplies…” Letter is split along horizontal length, with 1 ½” piece torn away in center, but present. The split runs through the “J” in LeConte’s signature. Plus; ALS, 2 ½pp., quarto, July 29, 1866, Preston Miss, signed “Mollie [?] V. McRa”. Letter to parents with comments on writer’s illness. “I have been cupped three times, once in the temple and twice on the back of my neck, and had three mustard blisters on me…” Also briefly refers to General Kershaw. “…tell Pa to tell Genl Kershaw to attend to that business for me…“ Some damp staining and 2” centerfold hole affecting appx. 10 words. Condition as described above, with overall fair to very good.

Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).