The First Georgia Volunteers Defend Pensacola, Florida in April 1861

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2018

A rare group of three (3) early war-date Confederate soldier's letters, totaling nearly 10pp. 4to., written by "George" (most likely 2nd Lieut. George W. Crane), Co. D, 1st Georgia (Ramsey's) Volunteer Infantry while serving at Warrington Navy Yard, Pensacola, Florida, between April 28 and May 23, 1861. All to his brother concerning his regiment's early service at Pensacola, Florida. The 1st Georgia was organized at Macon, Georgia in March 1861 and were immediately sent to help defend the Florida coast, at Pensacola, from Yankee invasion. Then, by June 1861, when Virginia became the epicenter of military activity they were transferred to Northern Virginia first seeing action in the battle First Bull Run. From then on they served as part of Lee's army including at the battle of Gettysburg and siege of Petersburg until those remaining surrendered at Appomattox. The letters, read, small part: "…[Camp Georgia, Warrington [Navy Yard], Fla., April 28, 1861]…I wish you would get me…two flannel shirts Red…today is a dear Sabbath…I do wish I could spend it at old St. James church…something else…send…my Black Hat…we had commenced our prayer meetings they were not very well attended…they have all most made a preacher out of me…I had to lead…it was the Greatest cross that I ever boore…I notice everything in camp life. It give me more faith in the Lord…through him…I don't grieve like a great many others do…there is no prospects of a fight yet…[Camp Georgia, May 8, 1861]…there was great excitement on Monday night. We were expecting an attack and was ordered to sleep on our arms…yesterday afternoon two steam boats [the Dick Keyes and the Lewis, source U. S. Navy ORs Series 1, Vol. 16, page 820] coming in from New Orleans was over hauled and stopped at [Fort] Pickens. There was three guns fired at our guard boat that accompanied the steam boats but she entered the port without being injured. The boys wanted to go right to work but they did not have any orders to do so…General Bragg will [?] them today, but there no telling how things will end, perhaps [there] will be fighting before tomorrow…President Davis has given orders not to commence in six days. The boats that were captured…contained fifty thousand dollars worth of provisions for the army…it[s]…a shame that we have to submit to such vilany…though we are not prepared as we wish…I don't care how soon the ball opens…I understand from Lt. Col. [James O.] Clark that there was four mortars…to be planted…in the woods…and our regiment was to take charge of them. They are to be planted in the bushes so that the enemy cant discover where they are firing from…we will be quite safe because they wont know where to fire…I have not received but two letters from you since I arrived at Pensacola…[Camp Georgia, May 23, 1861]…the U. S. postal organizations will be stopped by the first of June…we were called yesterday about one o'clock into rank and told to keep ourselves in readiness at a minutes notice…I wont believe it until I hear the cannon and then I will hardly believe it. We have had so many false alarms…I think we have the poorest discipline here of any army…the Captain & Lieut. Col. Clarke wifes are in camp…the boys went round and serenaded them last night and [?] serenaded Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Medlock of Sandersville…two of our company are at the hospital…laying at the point of death…I am afraid he cant stand it many days…the one that is so bad off…name is Morris…his mother is here and his Uncle Ben Russell…Lieut. [Joseph V. H.] Allen left here for Augusta…the boys are well pleased with my shirts…they want to have some made like them…you can judge how well we are fed by Jeff Davis…I went over to Captain [Samuel H.] Crumps battery the other day…it is a splendid one…it has two guns nearly opposite [Fort] Pickens. They have done a great deal of work in the last few weeks…we had two sermons last Sunday. One from our chaplain & the other from preacher [2nd Lt. John H.] Felder, brother of Dr. Felder of Augusta." Much more interesting content. Light soiling, else VG.

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