2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
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A great and highly detailed letter, 8pp. 8vo., letter written, on "The Union, The Constitution" patriotic stationery, by Pvt. Julius Shelly, Co. D, 2nd Ohio Vols. [n. p., but Olympian, Kentucky,] October 14 - 21, 1861, to his sister concerning their baptism to service after the regiment move into eastern Kentucky, reading, in part: "- the regt left there [Camp King] - and has been moving every day cince - we left Camp King on Sunday even and landed at Paris about 12 o'clock that night and camped on a fair ground - we marched through Paris and we were greeted with hearty cheers and the stars and stripes were displayed in different parts of the town, but the rabid secessionist turned up their noses and looked sour but did not dare say anything. We traveled until night when we stopped at a place called Middletown and camped in a meadow - at noon we were marched up to a mans house where he had prepared dinner for the whole regt - Capt. [William A.] Smith's and Capt. [Obediah Craig] Maxwell's [brevet brigadier general] companies are now in the mountains defending a pass to keep the rebels from conveying troops from Virginia to Kentucky. The rebels are threatening us all the time - we were called up three times last night by the guard who thought the rebels were close by - fifteen of purr company went out this morning and brought in three prisoners. One man out of [the] four escaped after being fired at four times - we will march soon - [Monday, Oct. 21, 1861] the regiment has left camp at the Springs and is now camped fifteen miles farther up in the mountains in the woods at a road where the rebels have to pass through to Breckinridge's army. They threatened to attack us but have not done it yet - the First Ohio regt would join us - with a battery of artillery. We would be glad to see them come. Our regt left Olympian Springs yesterday morning and marched to the place where we are now camped - we have taken about twenty prisoners in this neighborhood. Capt. Smith's company took nearly all of them. One man when seeing a squad from our company took leg bail but while he was running one of the boys fired at him and broke his arm. Four other shots were discharged but none took effect. Two men that were with him were taken prisoners and brought into camp. A spy from Breckinridge's army was taken prisoner. Secessionists are all badly scared - two bears were seen yesterday - I guess they are not quite so numerous as the rebels - before we left Camp King Capt. Smith's wife made a present to the whole company of a work book like the one you made me only much nicer [Yikes!] - PS I heard a few minutes ago that a bear came in side of the guard lines last night and two lieutenants followed it out. There is a cave here which they inhabit - Julius Shelly." Minor toning and stains, else VG.
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