Raynors 2020-05 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020
Confederate officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by 1st Lt. Abner Newton Steele, [KIA Glendale, Va., June 30 1862], Co. G (North Port Rifles), 11th Alabama Infantry, "Camp near Centerville, Va., Sept. 26, 1861," to his wife Eleanor Caroline (Thompson) Steele (1825-1906), in part: "…we moved up to this place last Monday and are now camped one mile on the turnpike road from Centreville. It is about six miles from Fairfax Court house and about sixteen to Alexandria…we are getting pretty close to the enemy. We have orders at this time to have three days' provisions cooked and ready to march at a minutes warning. The pickets are shooting at each other every day. I cant say for certain what the next movement will be but…there is one in contemplation shortly. There are three hundred men making ladders and the cars bring up ferry boats every day from Richmond which…are sent somewhere below on the Potomac. All the army are now in advance of us…we are allowed to know but little about the plan of operations…we will have a hard time of it here this winter. I would much rather risk my life in a battle than through the winter. We lost another man yesterday (Riggsby)…that makes eight in all have died since we left…we are sleeping on the ground every night…the country and the people are very poor around here and seem to have but little accommodations about them…the next battle fought…will be one of the bloodiest that has ever been recorded in history and…will decide the matter… [Sept. 30th] …our army has retreated to Fairfax Court House…the enemy is within six miles of that place and [are] still advancing…our Genls. are endeavoring to draw them out of their entrenchments so we can have a fair chance at them…we have about 150,000 men here and have been within one mile and a half of their entrenchments but the policy is not to attack them if we can draw them out. We look for hot work in a few days…the quartermaster & Commissary are staff officers and aides to the Col. in battle…I will be mounted and in the field. I have a splendid mare about five years old. She can jump a ten rail fence and run like a deer. I will stick to old Sydenham like grim death to a dead niger…I send you a piece of cedar taken from a bush on the battlefield near where Genl. Bee fell also a piece of cedar chip slit off the post that was set up in the spot where he did fall…Newt." There is no silver here to pay postage…N." Also included is the original transmittal cover with manuscript "Centreville, Va., Oct. 1, pd. 10." post marks. Overall VG.
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