Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
War-date Confederate officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Lieut. Mann Page [WIA Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, 62], 21st Virginia Infantry, as aide de camp on Gen. Early's staff, "Hd. Qrs. Valley Dist.," [Staunton], Dec. 27, 1864, to his uncle, David Copeland Randolph, reading, in part: "…I wish you would get the horse…you can call him mine to prevent his being impressed…I have no money to buy for all the stock I have [and] would not get one horse. Next spring if…it will be worth anything at all, but I am thankful to say that I did all I could to sustain the cause of our country. Our prospects in the South and west look very badly just now, but do not let it depress you, for me while I deplore it I had [become] more and more defiantly. Our cause is just & I am willing to let providence take his own good time to put a stop to this bloody war and if the people would stop crooking & sustain the army & think less of making money we will be by spring to meet the enemy with as large an army as we had this last spring…what we want is a proper organization of our armies by the appointment of all commission office & give the Genl. commanding the power to stool or brake any officer for bad conduct on the field or disobedience of orders…unless we have discipline in our armies we are loosed…I do not hesitate to say that Genl. Early been properly sustained by the officers under him and they had kept proper control over their men instead of our army being now…at Staunton we would be on the Potomac drawing our supplies from Penn. & M. d. with all the crops of the Valley being sent to feed Genl. Lee at Richd. and what may be said of this may be said of every army in Confederate States. The people…forget the soldiers [are themselves] impressed and that the Govt. promises him $18 per month when, in fact, it…gives him two cents…let those at home remember these things and thank their god that they receive their meals, a day's sleep…and rise in the morning to enjoy the blessings at home…Mann Page." Minor soiling, else VG
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