Raynors HCA 2017-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017
A great Confederate soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., on excised Confederate patriotic stationery, by Pvt. James F. Cameron, [KIA Gettysburg, 7/2/63], Co. B, 11th Alabama Infantry, Manassas Junction, [Va.], Nov. 12, 1861, in part: "…I am still here guarding baggages…I suppose you have heard of our side gaining a famous victory in Cantucky. (sic) Our troops routed them and cut there army to peaces. There is a little excitement…that the Yankees are marching to take Winchester. There is a great many soldiers ordered back to that place. There was 2,000 men left here yesterday for that place…this little place we call Manassas is a fast place and one of the ugliest and filthiest places in the Southern Confederacy…if the war last much longer it will share the same fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. It will sink for I think it is one [of] the wickets places agoing. [Nov. 14th]…I sent 20 home by John L. Jones. He has got a discharge. He is now in Richmond weighing [waiting] on some men of our company. He may get home in 2 weeks…but when he does come…you must go up to Pleasant Ridge an git it. We are expecting to draw some more shortly…I was speaking of this place, Manassas Junction. I will try and give you a picture of senes [scenes] in the morning. You are woke…by a beat [of] 20 drums and fifes and bands…and about a dozen steam cars snorting and curling smoke in ever[y] direction. At sun up the whole place is alive with men stirring in every direction every man for himself. Accommodation is bloted out of our dictionary…go round to the Sutler's tent. There you will see them selling goods at two prices, making money to the tune [of] 100 a day. There is lots of men getting rich from this war. Men that come here with us vowing to fight with us to the last, but when we come to be mustered into service they were found missing. So they made there passage here free and then they turn sutler and try to swindle us out of the last sent. Such men ought bee taking & hung to the nearest grape vine…you go from there to the work shop. There you will see a dozen or more men employed in making coffins for the dead…go from there [to the] Surgents department. There you se doctors dealing out medicine like a farmer…young doctor that never practiced medicine…and some of them that has not go license enough to carry guts to a cub bar [cupboard]. We with then return to our camps and weight for our breakfast while Bill bakes the bread and Jack makes the coffee…and Tom sets the table…tell mama…I can learn Sharlot how to cook when I come back [he was killed in action at Gettysburg]…you spoke of hearing that I had been fighting. I do not no how you come to know I had been fiting. Yes, I did have a fit with a fellow by the name of Steward [Pvt. John Stuart] and gave him thrashing in less than no time, but we are on good terms now. All the officers justified me in doing so and punish[ed] him. We have a Irish frolic occasionally in camp, but this was the only difficulty I ever…had in the army. I get along finely with the boys…Jas. Cameron." Most of Cameron's phonetic spelling has been corrected. Expected soiling and folds, else VG.
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