2020-01 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/18/2020
Autograph Letter Signed by Erwin West, rose to 2nd Lt., Co. 'F', 60th North Carolina Infantry, Abingdon, Virginia, April 25, 1861, and reads in most part: "…Abingdon is all excitement, the quiet little village of a few weeks ago is now like a military camp - companies parading all the time & Abingdon will be nearly deserted when they leave. Nearly all have volunteered, old and young, principally young men. They will have six companies from his county, one or two not altogether made up. The ladies are all busy making uniforms, bandages, scraping lint, and all necessary preparations for them. They have different uniforms, blue, gray, green, red. I admire the blue the most, they are quite plain, joined bunting skirt made loose with a belt of the same, flannel shirt, any color, buckskin gauntlets, blankets. The citizens have presented horses to the Calvary companies. The flag of the Southern Confederacy floats from nearly every house. Virginia attached herself to the Southern Republic today. The negroes are volunteering in places, some are going from here, say they intended fighting for their masters. I hope the continue in that spirit for I have been dreading them more than the Yankees. I think we all ought to learn to use firearms in order to be able to protect ourselves. The Virginians in office under Lincoln have all resigned except the old traitor Scott, he declares he will lose his right arm in defense of the stars & stripes or rather old Abe, I hope he will get his just destiny. I hope our troubles may be as great as we apprehend. The South have been successful so far, without the loss of many lives. I am sorry to find so many Northern sympathizers in our country, though. They are not allowed to express themselves here. They would hang them without any ceremony. Jos. Johnston of Ten. passed here a few days ago, they taunted him in every possible way. Spit in his face, pulled his nose, talked very strongly of hanging him. May 5th Thousands of troops have passed here in the last few days from the South. About 3000 passed, yesterday, I have been at the Depot nearly every day for a week. They seem to be cheerful, the ladies shower flowers upon them. With so many noble hearts, and justice on our side how can be otherwise than successful. Our companies have not been called as yet. Unfortunately for them they have no arms. Those that have gone on are all armed and equipped. Our ports are all blockaded and we can't get any arms from Europe, but they have said our ports should not be blockaded, so I think we will have England on our side. If we do woe be to the Yankees. A report came here they had fired into a British vessel. I hope it may be true. Trains are going on while I write with guns and to bring more troops. We expect every day to hear of an attack being made at Alexandria and Harpers Ferry. Lincoln intends to invade Virginia if he comes, it will take a strong force take them back. We can get any amount of men. Several thousand Indians have offered their services to Jeff Davis. Mr. Morrison told me he saw Heampry Wood in Richmond and that he was doing good service there drilling."
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