February 23rd, 2012
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2012
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 7pp. 8vo., written by Corp. Patrick Kelly, Co. D, 97th New York Vols., "Hospital 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps., Army of the Potomac, near Gettysburg, Pa., July 15, 1863 with its original transmittal cover, reading, in part: "Your letter…was duly received after coming out of one of the severest battles of the war…since the fourth of July I have been lying in hospital sick…where many who were wounded in the late battle are under good treatment though maimed, mangled and crippled. Not one do I hear utter a discouraging word…all seem to be in pretty good spirits…I might write you half a dozen sheets about the particulars of our march and the scenes of the battlefield…our regiment was particularly exposed through the fight and our loss heavy. many of us ran very narrow chances, as is the case with thousands in battle. I have an acquired faculty, as have many others, of dodging [?] balls and stooping when [?] shell is heard yelling and whizzing through the air…I have endured much hardship…". Letter and cover appears to have been negligibly mud stained on the battlefield, but is still readable, else VG.
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