Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
War-date Confederate officer's letter, 5pp. 8vo., written by Lieut. Mann Page [WIA Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, 62], 21st Virginia Infantry, "Head Quarters 21st Regt. Va. Infantry, Camp near Morton's Ford, Dec. 13th, 1863," to his uncle, David Copeland Randolph, reading, in part: "Having determined to let William go to Cumberland [Co.] I avail myself of the opportunity to drop you a few lines…after getting back to camp….we had to march to meet the enemy and after the fight which this division had to lay in line of battle for four days during some very cold weather…after being absent sick at Keswick I found that I had been reported absent without leave by the Col. of my Regt. & on getting back was arrested by him and informed that he would prefer the charges. I informed him that I was welcome to do so for…I wished to stand my trial…that I might prove how unfit the charge was. He is a mean man and has taken a dislike to me ever since I left the Regt and went on J. R. Jones' staff and although the Dr. told him that I had gone off with his consent he did not care that my leaving was informal & that he meant to prefer the charge as soon as I got back. After being under arrest for two days I was released from arrest & ordered by Col. [William Addison] Witcher to report for duty which I did as we were about to have a fight…my duty to my country [allowed me] to wave all personal objections and go to meet the enemy. Had it not been for the fight I would not have accepted my release, but demanded that the charges should be preferred. After getting back to camp I went up to see Genl. Jones and informed him of what had taken place…expressed my great willingness to stand a court martial…and if that was not done I demanded a court of enquiry…but Genl. Jones assured me that he did not think it at all necessary for Dr. Flewing came to see him after Wicher reported me absent without leave…and that he did not know that I had been arrested until after I was released or he would have released me [himself]…Witcher was actuated by spite & not by a service of duty. I determined to let the matter drop but my position is more disagreeable than it has been at any time since I entered service for while on one of his drunken sprees (which he was enjoying when I got back to the Regt.) he expressed his dislike to me and said he determined to make my time a[s] disagreeable as possible…he wants me to resign that he may fill my place with some friend of his, but I shall not gratify him unless I can better myself…if you made any molasses please send me some by William for we have nothing now but beef & flour & not very good at that…I had to buy a pair of…boots…they cost $75…the best way to increase our pay would be to give us our rations and in that way we who have no family can get along by living in the plainest way and going as ragged as the men…a Luiet. cannot live on his pay now particularly one who has to keep a horse & feed a servant for they can eat a pound of meal a day besides other things…Mann Page." Minor soiling, else VG
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