Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
War-date Confederate Ordnance Sergeant's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Eli F. Cornwell, Co. A, 32nd Georgia Infantry, (as Acting Ordnance Sergeant, Charleston Harbor), "Palmetto Battery, South Carolina, Oct. 29, 1864", to his sister, reading, in part: "…in the best of health, also the company…I heard from the garrison in Fort Sumter…they are all well and…they will be relieved in 10 or 12 days…one of Co. "F" has lost an arm in the fort since I last wrote and is getting well fast. There is but very few casualties in the Fort now though the shelling is quite heavy. Somedays the shelling of the city is kept up most vigorously…a most sad fate and truly humiliating occurrence happened to some of the 32nd Ga. last Wednesday…just before day break by one of those incendiary shells at the city jail. The shell passed through the House that Capt. Mobly and mess occupied killing instantly his brother…and taking off both of Capt. John Darden's legs of Co. "F" and one of Lieut. May's legs Co. "H"…both of them died while their wounds were being dressed…Lieut. Willis of Co. "H" lost an eye. He is a brother in law to Arthur Steel, Capt. Mobly was not hurt. Lieuts. May, Darden and Shannon was all in one bed. Their remains have been forwarded home to their friends. I regret their misfortune very much for they were all my most intimate friends…Col. Harrison's orderly died last week of Yellow fever. He staid in the city one night. It is very dangerous to remain in the city…but I think the epidemic is subsiding…as the weather remains cold and fair…we have met with another defeat in the Shenandoah Vally, It was a great victory to us in the first of the fight, but…Sheridan reformed his flying columns and our line gave way and we lost all our artillery…I am not able yet to say what Genl. Hood will do…and I think Sherman will winter in Atlanta, but I hope not…W. T. McKissack of Co. "A" died yesterday at Mt. Pleasant of yellow fever. He has been from home 10 or 12 days and he staid one night in the night. He was put in the Guard House for over staying at home. I was in the guard house to see him last Sunday and he was complaining then of feeling a little sick…E. F. Cornwell." Eli F. Cornwell was born on November 29, 1834 in Jasper County, Georgia, was wounded in battle at Averasboro, North Carolina on March 16, 1865, dying the following day. His letter has been laminated, else VG
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