Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Elias French, Co. E, 119th Penn. Vols. (WIA Spotsylvania C. H., Va., 5/12/64), [n. p., n. d., but Brandy Station, Va., ca. April 1864] to his mother, in part: "…I was very sorry to hear you was so sick. Dear mother you know I cant come home. We are going to move in a few weeks. We are going to take Richmond and General Grant wants all the men he can get…he wont let me [go] home. We [will] have a fight many a hard battle this spring god knows. I might be killed in the first battle this spring. Old General Grant wont let no body home till next fall so I got to fight till then. Then I can come home…if I haint dead in Virginia. Down South all the battles [I have] been in I came out pretty safe. God knows I will this summer. I came in from picket the sergeant gave me your two letters and red them and I found very bad news from home. Dear mother I will try hard as I can in the summer to get home to you and stay with you all the time and work and buy a small boat and earn money for you…you know I was a bad boy when I was home and you didn't like me…so I enlisted in the army…you used to say I gave you so much trouble and eat so much you could not keep me. I cost so much so I enlisted for a soldier and I am yet…I got a letter from Johnny Kick. He said he was well…he is going to come in the field whare I am down south i[n] Dixie…whare all the rebels are and old Jeff Davis[s.] I am going to send my photograph in the next letter…I got a solid gold ring and I send it in this letter…e pretty gold ring…put it on your finger and ware it all your life…I got it in South in Virginia. Mr. Elis French, 119 P. V. V., 3rd Brigade, 1st Divis., 6 Army Corps, Co. E." Minor soiling, else VG
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