2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A good war-date Union soldier's, 4pp. 4to., letter written in ink by Pvt. Albert J. Whitley, Co. C, 141st New York Vols., Laurel Station, Md., Nov. 9, 62 to his brother concerning a ruse, in which he was a part of, to squelch the drunkenness of his comrades at local stores, reading, in part: "…I am…and enjoying the benefits of camp life…the Colonel has ordered log barracks to be built for the Regiment. They commenced getting the timber out yesterday…a week ago I went with some soldiers…to get some of the boys back to camp that were out on a tight [a drunken spree], after finding them Captain Russell wanted I and another man to go to a store, which has been a place of resort for soldiers when they want to get drunk and see if we could not change clothes with the storekeeper…the rebels have more friends here than we have, one man said he would change clothes with us if he could…we were assured by the Storekeeper that there were men enough…up the road. Who would give us all the clothes we wanted, at this stage of the game one of the men went out doors and found the boys…the game was up with me. In came the Captain and…six men to take the other man and I prisoners, to give things the right look. We pinched for the door…I upset a barrel, which was upon another…none mistrusted the ruse…I was set at liberty after we had got half a mile from the store. The Captain was so pleased with a joke that he could hardly contain himself…burn this as soon as you read it…". Whitley enlisted in August 1862 servicing in southern Virginia, in the Atlanta Campaign until he was wounded at Resaca, Ga. on May 15, 1864, and Sherman's March to the Sea. Before being discharged he was promoted to sergeant. Minor spotting, else very good.
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