2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
War-date Union soldier's letter written by Sgt. James S. Stratton, 12th New Jersey Infantry, KIA at Ream's Station on August 25, 1864, 4p. quarto, Camp of the 12th N.J. Vols, Near Falmouth, Virginia, March 6, 1863, and reads in part: "…I have to announce to you the sad intelligence of the death of another of your boys, another of the brave hearts that volunteered under your direction to fight their country's battles. The departed one was Private Eldridge [died of apoplexy]…the last I saw of him was perhaps eight days ago, at which time he was conversing with Dr. S and endeavoring to get excused from duty having that day been detailed for guard. He was excused and admitted into the hospital….Corpl [Abel] Shute [DOW Gettysburg] attended sick call Sgt. L. [Charles D. Lippincott] being on picket and whilst returning looked into the book and noticed opposite George's name 'off (dead)'…George had died about fifteen minutes before sick call. He had taken a fit the previous afternoon and when the Dr. visited him in the morning a slight emission of blood took place and life was extinct…About seven and a half A.M. yesterday we were ordered to be in line by eight for review. We fell in accordingly and upon counting off found that we numbered eleven files. 1st Sergts call was sounded and two men were sent to our company from B to equalize the companies. D and another were dismissed. So you will see we numbered eight companies of twenty four men each - total one hundred ninety two rank and file. But one commissioned officer was with us Lt. Franklin who filled the positions of Col and Adjt. every company was commanded by a Sergt. some below the rank of orderly. Lt. Col. Willetts [WIA Chancellorsville] commanded the brigade, Brigadier Hays the division. Major Davis [KIA Spotsylvania Court House] was absent, not yet having recovered from a disgraceful drunken spree of the previous evening…The review was of the entire corps. The reviewer was the commander in chief Maj. Gen. Hooker…" Negligible paper loss at fold intersections, else VG.
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