Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A great Gettysburg/Iron Brigade, Libby Prison letter, 1p. 8vo., penned by 2nd Lieut. Harland Richardson, Co. F, 19th Indiana Vols. captured at the heavy fighting near McPherson's Woods, Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. "Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., April 24, 1864," addressed to Mr. [Joseph S.] Riley, in part: …I am very sorry to have to call on you…you will do me a favor by sending to me the following list of articles…two cotton shirts, two towels, by doing so you will confer a favor on the undersigned. Harland Richardson, 2 Lt. 19th Ind." Richardson enlisted in Company F, 19th Indiana in July, 1861, and initially, served in the regiment's commissary department. He rose through the ranks to become an officer before the battle of Gettysburg and at that epic battle was taken prisoner along with six other unnamed comrades near McPherson Woods on July 1, 1863. He spent seventeen months as a prisoner of war and was confined at Libby Prison, Macon, Ga. and Columbia, S. C. before being paroled on Dec. 9, 1864. Research shows that Richardson was a thoughtful and compassionate man. Once while confined in Libby Prison he received a request for some tobacco to ease the misery of imprisonment. The request came from a young comrade, who was then confined on Belle Isle. Unable to fulfill the young man's request he instead sent what he could and that was the last he had of Confederate currency. Perhaps, that is why Richardson sent this amazingly grocery list of that includes, thirty pounds ham and beans; twenty-five pounds flour and rice; ten pounds sugar, coffee, cheese, dried apples and lard; five pounds chewing tobacco; two ponds tea; and finally, one pound saleratus! Minor toning, else VG
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