A Confederate Officer On the Opening of the Gettysburg Campaign

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021

A war-date ink inscribed, 4pp. 8vo., Confederate officer's cross hatched letter written by Adjutant Edmond Sill 2nd S. C. Vols. "Camp on bank of Shenandoah River, in Paris gap of Mountain, June 23, 1863" to his sister concerning the movements of his regiment during the opening of the Gettysburg campaign, and a very "sick" rumor by a member of the regiment that Sill is engaged to his sister, in part: "…we are camped near a…Paris in Facquier County. We have had very severe marching since leaving Culpeper…the longest march…was 22 miles. Our men staggered a great deal. There were a few cases of sun stroke and some deaths two or three from the brigade. I held out…but…it put me up to my best…on Saturday we crossed over the river…on Sunday evening we were ordered back to meet the Yankees. They having drove back our cavalry…several miles…the cavalry suffered severely engaging both Yankee Infantry and Cavalry…the Yankees had only made a strong demonstration. Such demonstrations were not pleasant to the Infantry…we were forced to wade and rewade the river…the rain had swollen the river …it was nearly waist deep…on Sunday…my company was sent out on picket…all are in the dark as to our movements. I think that Gen. Lee wants the Yankees to attack him in this vicinity. This is one of those times that Gen. Lee has kept his secrets all to himself. You have seen accounts of Gen. Ewell's victory at Winchester…it is a pity that General Milroy could not have been captured. I received…a letter from ___…she…received a message from a gentleman of this Regt informing her that we were engaged [to be married]…the gentleman referred to is D. Green of the Sumpter company…now that is a sick trick to play…I do not see why…George did not pay to William my part of Grand Pa's estate…he will now have to pay the government $500 for the privilege of keeping an overseer. Besides giving his overseer his wages, which will cost very near $900…I have just heard a sermon…by the chaplain of the 8th Regt…we have been having preaching every day…June 24th we left camp 3 o'clock this morning…towards Harper's Ferry…we are ordered to Hagerstown Maryland. Gen. Ewell is now in Maryland, was at Boonsboro…last Saturday…". Unfortunately, this letter is not signed by Sill, and ends abruptly. However, we believe that the letter is a complete, since Sill adds in pencil the movements of the regiment into Maryland from June 24th on the following page. Some soiling, else very good.

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