2022-07 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2022
A good Confederate soldier's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Henry J. Carter, Col. [William] Wirt Adams (1st Mississippi) Cavalry regiment, "Tupelo, Miss., June 17, 1862", to his wife reading, in part: "-we now belong to no regiment - my letters will go to Saltillo where Adams' cavalry is now camped. We are now a company by ourselves and will probably be incorporated in a new Ala. regiment to be formed soon of which Capt. Murphy will be Col. We are very well satisfied to be clear once more of the regiment to which we have belonged. Both ourselves and our horses fair much better then when we were in that command - direct in care of Capt. F. Y. Gaines of Gen. Beal's Brigade of Cavalry - it seems the enemy in turn has retreated and now we do not know of any of them this side of Corinth. They probably this by this time that they worked too long to get only a nest of spoiled eggs at C. and I expect that this extremely hot weather they do not feel much like fighting or marching. We have a very agreeable camping ground about three miles from the R. R. station on the west side of the road. We have good water and good shade and fine grazing for our horses. My horse is now in very good plight, but not as fat as when I started from Isney. He is perfectly gentle - he paces finely - do you sing the "Evening Hymn, The Strangers Heart, Ship at Seas" and all the good old pieces I used to love? - there is a strange awe-inspiring influence which those old songs have upon the soldiers when sung in camp. Music appeals to the soul - awakens the memory - I love music for in it are treasured the bitter part of my checked existence - amid war's attar's I had well nigh ceased to sing, but when I think of thee and the happy days we spent together - I find myself lulled to such repose of feeling that a song breaks forth - do you have any friends who can sing with you or has the iron entered so deeply into your souls that none of you can sing - your devoted, Husband. Direct to Tupelo, Mis. Care of Capt. F. Y. Gaines, Gen. Beal's Cav." Also included is the original "Due 5" transmittal cover with "Tupelo, Miss., June 17" cancel on the verso. Docketed: "Priv. H. J. Carter, Capt. F. Y. Gaines Com., Gen. Beal's Brigade" in the upper left corner. Fully transcribed. Overall VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.