2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
War-date letter archive of Lt. York Woodward, Co. D‚ 34th Pennsylvania Infantry, who was wounded at Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862 and discharged due to wounds in March, 1864. Later he entered the 24th Regt. Veteran Reserve Corps as a lieutenant. The lot consisting of seven letters written between January and November 22, 1864, totaling 35 pages plus one letter dated April 19, 1865, reading, in part: "...[Mower U.S.A. Genl. Hospl. 1/9/64]…I have parted from friends at home a number of times since I entered the service of my country, but I think I felt more lonely and desolate this time...I almost regretted having come home...[1/31/64 Mower‚]…Just as I finished the other sheet, my nurse brought in my dinner (a piece of toast and one egg)...don't ask me to set any time…to get another leave for I must not think of it or I will get homesick and…resign and come home altogether and that I must not do for I have made up my mind if the officers of our corps are made a part of the reg[ular] U.S.A[rmy]. I [will] remain in the army and make a soldier of myself...[Mower Hospital 3/10/64]…Your truly welcome and cheerful little missive came duly to its destination on the 1st of the month, but owing to the number of Mustard rolls‚ that I had to make out, and the other business on hand in the office, it was impossible for me to ans. right away...I received an order from J.B. Fry Provost Marshal Genl. Washington to report myself to a board of examination of applicants for commissions in the Invalid Corps‚ for examination, the order came so unexpectedly that I was wholly unprepared and had but four days to get ready, and it necessary that I should employ every moment of my time in studying my tactics‚ and regulations‚...I did not get my examination until yesterday. I tell you it was rigid. I do not know the result yet, nor can until I get word from the Adjt. Genl. which…I will get in the course of a few days. It may be possible that the next time I write I can subscribe myself Lieut.‚, if not I think I have my discharge papers in such a shape that I can get them in a weeks times, so you see, I am bound to be either a Lieut. or a citizen...[Hd. Qrs. V.R.C. Detached Giesboro Point, D.C. 5/11/64]…I have been a Lieut in the Vet. Res. Corps since the 17th of March, and have been here in this city of congressmen, army contractors and Brig. Gen'ls ever since the 26th of the same month. I have traveled‚ some since I last wrote too, when I was ordered to Washington from Phila. I took a round about way, and spent twelve hours in Wms'port...I came to the conclusion that a commission in the U.S.A. would be much better for me than the life of a civilized person‚ after having been in the army for nearly three years...[South End Long Bridge, Va. 9/1/64]…The life of a soldier is curious…since writing the first part…of this letter, I have been relieved from command at South E.L.B. Va., and am now snuggly ensconced in my old quarters. I don't expect to stay long though, for our regt is under marching orders, and your next letter may find me at Fortress Monroe‚ or Norfolk, Va.‚...I don't want to say that my wound is any worse than it was last winter, and I can't say it is any better, it troubles me very much at times, I have been advised by a surgeon to place myself on the sick list, and try by resting to heal it up, but I think it useless...[Wisewell Barracks D.C. 10/17/64]…I have been at home 30 days, and am now reported for duty‚ on my regtl. roll in Washington and that without visiting the city...[Co. B's‚ Barracks Washington D.C. 11/22/64]…our streets are a perfect mass of mud, Washington is noted for being the dirtiest city in the U.S. and well it deserves the name, it appears to me as though the sacred soil‚ of Virginia had extended itself over into the D.C. and took delight in annoying the inhabitants, and it does it well...in the morning after breakfast I take up the Washington Morning Chronicle and see what the news is from Grant, Sherman and Sheridan and then [go] to work for the remainder of the day, my Capt being ill, all the work of the comp'y devolved on me, and as we have been getting a lot of recruits, it has been harder than usual...[letter sheet entitled "Kind of a journal commenced April 19, 1865"]…Traveled from Elmira N.Y. to Wmsport, saw the funeral procession of eight soldiers of the town who were killed at the battle of Fort Fisher‚. Made me think of the time that I was so very low, wondering if I would have…a military funeral...". All about VG to Fine.
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