Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
War-date Union cavalryman's letter written by Pvt. Jeremiah H. Obetz, Co. G, 9th Penn. Cavalry, "Camp [Dunham] near Bowling Green, [KY], Nov. 2, 1862," 5pp. 8vo., to his friend Henry C. Gringrich, reading, in part: "…I was detailed to go out reconnoitering…I told you about them two deserters [Pvts. George Termin and William Trout, Oct. 19, 1862] which I give credit for so doing…not only for Major Cannydy [Joseph M. Kennedy, 8th Kentucky Cavalry]…but there are enough of other reasons…the first place I will give…[is] the usage we get in our company as we are almost out day and night which of course a man is not able to stand without getting sick…when a man get sick…goes to the surgeon and is not so sick that he can crawl…he does not get excused from duty…we have to go if we are nearly helpless to get our horses…if you complain to the captain he will curse you to the lowest pits of H--l which is the case every time…at the present time I was well and hardy…until I shot myself and after that I done my duty…with the rest until last week. I took cold and had…a severe pain across the kidneys that I could hardly walk…then it took effect in my right knee which will cause to be the white swelling again…day before yesterday the Lieut. came…to have all the men out in 10 minutes ready for a scout…he came to me and said 'Jery, where is your horse'…I told him that I was not able to go…he cursed me all to H--l and said I am a god damn coward and swore he would put me to prison…so he made me go and my knee is very sore but they made me do duty last night. I had to guard a man's fence so the soldiers would not burn it up…that is the way we get used. There is 7 more out with me that are sick and bad off…the Mount Joy boys…get the gentlemen and on us Manheim [boys] he is damn sore a man as Capt. & Lieut. Nathan…I must be nigger for us Manheim boys have it worse then any of the KY slaves…do not inform my parents of this…I say if I ever desert I will only desert this company, not the service of the U. S…you may perhaps think why we do not report to the commander of the post…Capt. & Coln. [Sander D.] Bruce [20th Kentucky] are…always drunk…if you would come to report he would order you into the guard house…I will wait till our regt comes…then the Manheim boys will report to Col. Williams to be transferred into another company or we will desert the Regt. That is the opinion of the Manheim Boys. Keep this a secret and oblige us Manheim soldiers of the 9th…J. H. Obetz." Light soiling, else VG
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