Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
War-date Union soldier's letter, 2pp. 4to., written by Pvt. John R. Carnahan, Co. K, 67th Penn. Vols., Harpers Ferry, Va., Feb. 7, 1863, to his father, in part: "…we left Annapolis on the evening of the 3 and arrived here…after about 20 hours ride on the cars…we have the reputation of being the best and hardest regiment at this place…there is some dozen of them here. There is some of the highest kinds of hills in this place and…by the appearance of the country…five thousand men could hold the place against 25,000…you can se camps on all the hills around this place and you can see the affects of the war here in earnest. We are in sight of the battle ground whare Old Miles surrendered his men to the Rebels. The way that we git our wood…is to go and tare down a house and then all hands goes in and carries it off to thare camp. The most of the people in this place [has] left for the south and north as they thought best…all the government property is burnt and it looks very desolate indeed. The 14th [Penn.] Cavalry are quartered here and thare is a lot of them goes out everyday on a scout…they catch some of Rebels sometimes. Night before last there was one of our pickets shot by some of the Rebel scouts and they say the rebel pickets and ours are fighting at Winchester every day. I got a letter from James…he was well [Drummer James C. Carnahan 78th Penn. Vols. will die within several days]…we are quartered in a good brick house. We are up stairs in the front parlor but we have no chairs or anything to sit on but our knapsacks…it was a splendid sight to see our regiment crossing the pontoon bridge at the old ferry…when we git on a scout or two we will let you know…John R. Carnahan…Harpers Ferry, Virginia, 67 regt. P. V. Company K." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Most of his phonetic spelling has been corrected. Minor spotting, else VG
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