2024-07 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024
A great war-date Union corporal's letter, 4 pp. 8vo., written on "United States Capitol," patriotic stationery, by Corp. John S. Drenan, Co. L, 11th Vermont Vols. (1st Vermont Heavy Artillery), [2nd Lt, 7/11/63, WIA Cold Harbor, Va., 6/01/64 & POW Weldon Railroad, Va., 6/23/64], Washington, [D. C.], October 7, 1862, to his siblings, in part: "- picket guard - is the most particular business one ever knew - as you start from camp - to keep watch & your eyes peeled. This last one comes knowingly & you know all timbersome people in the night - to watch for breakers - they are frightfully charged to be on the watch - last week 4 of our men & Corporal D. was sent out on picket some 3 m[ile]s -too a back road - Rob Boise had the honorable post. I told them - if there was any trouble to awake me immediately, told him to hit me [and] I would wake easy - [in] a very short time jumping across the road to where I was - instead of hitting me a tap on the shoulder. Called out, in loud whispers, corporal, corporal some man has just ran across the road. I - roused my guards [and] placed them in shape for defense in a hurry, but it was just as quick over, twas a huge Coon in a hurry for a neighboring corn patch. So you see how men have to suffer. I am going again tonight & am bond to kill the coon - John S. D." Negligible spots, else VG.
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