2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
War-date Union soldier's letter written by Sgt. Jordan C. Harriss, Co. A, 81st Illinois Vols., 4p. octavo, Vicksburg, Mississippi, January 1, 1864, with Vicksburg cds cover, and reads in part: "…I have just finished making out pay rolls for Nov. & Dec….I don't have a very good opinion of the Rebs for raising the strife in our land & I don't believe they have a good opinion of themselves for it…if they have much wit they will certainly sue for peace soon as it is plain their cause is hopeless, but as they were fool enough to commence the war I sometimes think they will prolong it until they are nearly exterminated. I understand that the would-be-governor of this state Clarks says that if their armies are defeated if need be the old men, women & children will rise up join hand in hand & march -- into the Gulf of Mexico. I put the tail to the above declaration as I thought it would be more appropriate and reasonable, but I believe the old men & women would rather join with the Yankees than be antagonists for some of our boys who were in town told me that those women who were to be banished took on at a great rate & said they would rather be imprisoned here than go out in the State where starvation only would await them. I have not learned whether or not they were sent away but of this I'm sure that we'll have better behavior in the future…" VG. Harriss was captured with a majority of his regiment at Guntown, Miss. on June 10, 1864 and sent to Andersonville prison. After his exchange, he was mustered out with his regiment at the end of the war.
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