Raynors HCA 2018-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/21/2018
Manuscript lot of (30) letters sent to George E. Cowell, Co C, 141st PA, 1863-64, consisting of fifteen from six soldiers, and half homefront. The soldiers are original 141st 1862 recruits from Bradford County, PA, with most in Co C. They include: (3 letters) Sgt. George Kilmer, POW, wounded Morris Farm, VA; (1) Charles Scott, wounded Gettysburg and Petersburg; (1) James M. Piatt, wounded Chancellorsville ; (1) Bishop Horton, wounded Spotsylvania; (1) A. A. Baker, wounded Wilderness (8) Martin Van Buren Phelps, Co. E [appears to have been wounded, but not found in record]. Cowell was wounded at Chancellorsville, 5/3/1864. The hard-fighting 141st was involved in many key battles and sustained more than a 50% loss at Chancellorsville and nearly 70% loss at Gettysburg. About half of the approximate fifteen homefront letters touch on war matters - "cruel war"; draft, and copperheads. One on 143rd PA patriotic stationery from brother, Phil Cowell. A small number with covers. They read in part, slight spelling correction: Sgt.George Kilmer [Camp Convalescent, Aug 28, 1863] - "There is right smart of woman sex in this camp. Some of the boys gets some yam yam."; [Brandy Station, VA, Nov. 14, 1863] - "I suppose Phil is home getting some skin &c &c &c."; "The Joneys made a dash on our Pickets. The Old Bull dogs pored out on them for certain & drove them back."; "Probably I have done things while you was with the company that you did not like, but I did the best I knew how. You know what, an Orderly Sergt gets it things don't go to suit that is a D___g. I always wanted a man to mind…but I don't think I ever put a man on Guard that was very sick…"; Charles Scott [Camp Bullock, VA, Mar. 14, 1864] - "On the account of so many veterans going home on furloughs, our duty has been pretty hard this Winter…I have been carrying the colors the most of the Winter…Yesterday we commenced drilling for the first time since last fall. We had Battalion drill in the forenoon and Division drill in the afternoon. The Division drill was a grand sight and worth seeing… What few are left of the 141st are good strong men, and better able to stand the service than they were last year…We hope to be able to crush this rebellion this Summer."; Bishop Horton [Philadelphia, Dec. 9, 1863] - "I suppose that you write to that Big Dutch girl that you saw in the Lager Beer Saloon for she said that she fell in love with you…She told me a few days after that she would like to have you sleep with hur one night. She said that she would make you sweat or you would hur…I wished that you had bin with me last night. I had lots of fun. I was down to that theater whair we was that night when you was hear and their was aplenty girls their and you know about what kind they are."; Martin Van Buren Phelps [Convalescent Camp, Nov. 23, 1863] - "There was a Grand Review here last Wednesday which quite a number of Ladies was present, & that still just suited me. I dressed up in my best & went out as a spectator. We was paid Saturday & the boys was most awful drunk…they kept us sober boys awake most all night."; [Rendevous of Distribution, VA, Mar. 30, 1864] - "I shall try & come home this Summer & what a gay time we will have 'sparking' the girls. Won't we get off some big notes relating to your own experience in the Army. There is three Regts encamped just across the railroad…I see by todays paper that McClellan is going to take command of them. Geo I confidently believe that Gen Grant will finish up the fighting this Summer."; [Rendevous of Distribution, VA, April 23, 1864] - "I wish you was here to go to Contraband Church tomorrow. Freedman's Village is about one mile from Fort Albany…the population of the 'City' is about three thousand inhabitants all 'darkies'…As the preacher was talking the other evening, he addressed the colored gals as follows, 'Now you set back there with them sparkling eyes & rosey cheeks, take care or de devil will hab you for sartin.' How are your rosey cheeks."; "I have not heard from that 'fartin' girl since you was here. I guess she is bound up."; [R. of D., VA, June 9, 1864] - "Yes I tell you Grant is giving Jonnys fits. I think he will be in that cursed hole, Richmond, soon. Our loss has been frightful…I am thankful we was not on that old battle field, Chanslerville…In the past six weeks over 40,000 of soldiers have passed through here en route for the front.."; [R. of D., July 21, 1864] - "I suppose you have read all about the Rebel Raid into MD. Now brother, that beat the devil. It was one of the boldest dashes of the war. But they have lost three hundred wagons belonging to their Train…We were all armed in this camp even to the citizen Teamsters & Sutlers, all ready to fight for the old camp."; "…went to Camp Todd, Contraband Camp…saw the school mam & heard the little darkeys sing. The Teacher is a white gal & bully good looking. I nearly fell in love with her."; [R. of D., VA, Sept. 21, 1864] - "I think there will be a big fight at Petersburgh soon. Sheridan has whipped the Rebels up in the Valley…shall try hard to come home to give Abram a vote."; [Camp Dist., VA, Nov. 18, 1864] - "I was in Elmira [NY] at Brother Franks 4 days had a bully old time...I was riding with a gal one evening. We came to house & the man stood side of the road pissin. The wagon run so still he did not hear us. So I drove right up before him. There he stood with the old feller looking us in the face. So I said - Mr. will you please put that thing up until I get by with this girl."; "I tell you Geo the boys is scarce up in B[Radford] and the girls are ancious to get married…a feller can get all the didling he wants, that is the most thing there is up North. The boys can't get around so the married man helps them…Some of the soldiers goes home & gets married - comes back here & leaves their wives for some one else to use."; "I must tell you that I am glad that Mr. Lincoln is too retain the Presidential Chair for the next four years to come. I think this is a great & glorious victory." Overall VG+.
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