2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
A good war-date Confederate soldier's letter written by Sgt. Leonard Williams, Hampton Legion, South Carolina Cavalry, 2p. quarto, Camp Bartow, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, March 30, 1862, and reads in part: "…I am glad you have gotten home safely & Aunty is with you….an election was ordered yesterday a week ago to take place on yesterday for 2nd Lieutenant to fill the place of Lieut Prince. I was a candidate…there were four candidates at first two of them during the week withdrew & the race has been run by Blythe & myself & a close race it was. Many times during the canvass I would have been glad to be out of it. The canvass was warmly but fairly conducted, the vote cast was 62 several refused to vote not wishing to vote against either. I recd 35 votes & Blythe 27 giving me a majority of 7 votes, just as many as I wanted. Blythe is a capital young man, a student at Furman University & very popular. It will be several days before I am commissioned…Several of the troopers are sick with diarrhea & the sick are being moved to Richmond. All the troops in this vicinity are under marching orders, but we do not know for what destination…I have been to Fredericksburg several times, it is an old town the head of navigation & has been a place of large business. I judged its population is about 6 or 7000. I believe it is only 60 miles to Richmond. McClellan is said to have a large force in the field on its way to Richmond. May the Lord grant we may be able to turn them back in confusion & defeat…" VG.
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