Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A great war-date Union soldier's letter, 6pp. 8vo., on patriotic stationery, with "Gen. McClellan" patriotic transmittal cover, written by Corp. Joseph Schelly, Co. F, 1st Pennsylvania Rifles (42nd Penn. Bucktails), who was killed in action at Charles City Cross Roads, Va., June 30, 1862, "Camp Pierrepont, [Va.], Nov. 30, 1861, reading, in part: "…what clouded the seen we could not shoot any of them because no man was permitted to fire with his musket without the consent of an officer…we could not shoot the squirrels with a ball as they jumped from one tree to another…another thing we could not shoot them with the kind of guns we have for they are rifled muskets…Betsy is making great coats with a mantel [?] on them. They are soldier's overcoats…the great coat I have is of a sky-blue color but they are more than one color. I have one dress coat of black army cloth and a pair of pants the same also one pair of sky blue…last Wednesday…we had a grand review of the whole Army of the Potomac where 70,000 soldiers were present with more than 110 cannons. The president of the United States and Hon. Wm. H. Seward Sec. of State, Hon. Simon Cameron Sec. of War and other eminent men as well as Major General George B. McClellan, the Prince de Joinville accompanied with his (Genl. McClellan's staff) and body guards…also the President's family, members of congress and a great many ladies etc. A few days past there was a skirmish between our cavalry and the secessionist cavalry in which a few of our men were wounded and 17 of the rebels taken prisoners, including one wounded who died before the next morning…I like to be in the army…I would not like [to] be from it before I helped to fight…Jos. Schelly. N. B. write soon, Jos. Schelly, Comp. "F", 1st Rifles P. V. R. C., Col. C. J. Biddle, Genl. McCall's Divis., Camp Pierepont, Virginia…". VG to near fine.
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