Raynors HCA 2018-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/21/2018
A rare Medal of Honor winner's war-date letter, 4pp. 8vo., 1st Sgt. Wilmon W. Blackmar, Co. K, 15th Penn. (Anderson Troop) Cavalry, Louisville, KY, July 21, 1863, to his mother, in part: "I left Louisville last Sunday morning with the kind farewell of numerous new found friends who…expressed real regret at my departure. My haversack was well filled…with a lunch…made by…the Thompson family. God bless them all. I was very sad and sick on my way down from Lou[isville]. When half way down we heard that a squad of Guerrillas were waiting for us…every man was ordered to load…marched up to the barracks…after tea I requested to be introduced to the famous Miss. Nellie M. Chase-our Florence Nightengale. I expected to find her homely, good hearted old maid, but…I was warmly welcomed by a handsome young lady who was glad to see me because I belonged to 'Our Regt' as she terms the Anderson Co. She talked with me for two hours telling me all about her hardships in camp. She has been in service ever since the war broke out…she is a special favorite of Gen. Rosecrans and can get any favor she asks. She has….just returned from the front with about 30 of my Regt. sick…I asked what I should do to get under her care when I got sick again. She said 'write to me & I will see you are immediately sent to my hospital.' Yesterday she was sick all day, but in the evening she…sent for me…I went up…and she showed me her photographic album, letters from various great men & women, etc. I staid until late in the evening…[I am] proud of my young countrywoman who could meet soldiers on their own ground, associate with them, sleep…in their camps…I just ate dinner with Miss. Chase and added my photograph to her collection…my whiskers were very thin under my chin and I shaved them off…I thought you would like to see how I looked with them off…also our new regimental hat-you see we have to escort Old Rosy around. The goose who finished it put rings etc on. I scratched them off of one hand…[Meaning the photographer's assistant who finished his image got carried away by adding gold gilt to imaginary rings on his fingers.]…lots of our boys [are] here at No. 3 with Miss. Chase so I and all Anderson's make it head quarters when passing through, Wilmon." Near fine.
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