Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
Medal of Honor winner's war-date letter, 3 1/4pp. 8vo., 2nd Lt. Wilmon W. Blackmar, Co. H, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, "Hotel at Clarksburg, [West] Va.", April 17, 1864, to his father, in part: "…I am with the rest of the staff at this hotel, but expect to go into camp tomorrow. The snow was deep and the mud and slosh [was] so awful that I was very glad to spend the night in a hotel. It is very unpleasant to pitch our tents in mud…we had a rough time coming from Martinsburg the first night. Our engine broke down and we lay all night on the road. A new engine took us to Cumberland. There we put a car with two horses and a safe, office furniture, etc., etc. on in front and another engine took us through the night until about 3 1/2 when thump, thump and all were spilled over the floor. One ran one way and another the opposite, but as we were stopped I thought we were safe…when the excitement died down…I went out and found the Engine bottom side up, down a bank and two cars smashed up. The iron safe was lying on the white horse and she on the bay in a heap. At one end of the car, the side had to be cut out of the car, to get them out. I expected both horse were killed and…not a man hurt and we got the horse out safe. So serious a smash up with so few casualties is wonderful…I have quite a fine little mare and hope to soon find another good horse [as] I am entitled to more than one now and as [the] Pro. Mar. all captured horses must be turned over to me…Lieut. W. W. B., Pro. Mar., 2d Brig. Cav. Div, Clarksburg, W. Va., Col. Schoonmaker's Comdg…P. S. please send me by mail a pair of staff strap…2d Lieut. Staff strap have a black ground…Wilmon." Near fine.
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