Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
War-date Confederate non-commissioned officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Sergeant Major Mann Page [WIA Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, 62], 21st Virginia Infantry, "Camp Elk Mountain", [Western Virginia], Oct. 3, 1861, to his uncle, David Copeland Randolph, reading, in part: "…we fell back to this place from Valley Mountain day before yesterday after a most distressing march of four days (though only 18 miles). We lost two of our wagons & eight horses in attempting to cross a branch at Big Spring…such was the condition of the roads we had to destroy almost all of our tents & baggage…we had to sleep out in the rain without tents and had nothing to eat for more than thirty six hours, wading through mud up to our knees & water up to our waist…almost everybody in this brigade is more or less unwell…only one third of the brigade fit for duty…I have my duties & most of the adjutant's to perform as he is acting adjutant Genl. for this brigade…I agree with you in thinking that this war will not end soon…I shall never quit the field as long as health, life & the war shall last I am proud to have been among the first to enter the service of my country & state and hope to live to be among the last to quit and that to be when the North & Europe shall have acknowledged the independence of the Southern Confederacy, but such has been the suffering and hardships that these troops have undergone that I am afraid after this year is out not ten in a hundred can be prevailed up on to join again & if they do it will be with the express understanding that they will not be sent to this part of the country, but say nothing about this. I am very well satisfied with my present position & am treated with great cordiality by Col. Gilham, Maj. Shipp & Adjutant Morgan and very often captains will come to me to get me to speak to the Col. about the way in which I get master & commissary [supplies] which I did the other day when the Col. threatened to discharge them if matters was not better attended to for half our suffering is caused by the shameful manner in which these departments are conducted. Archy Page…stands well in the Regt as an officer & man & so does Capt. Irving. They both send their love. Archy carried his trunk on his back all the way from Valley Mount to this place. We are now about 13 miles from Huntersville…Mann Page." Very light toning, else VG.
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