The Pennsylvania Soldier Walks The Battlefield

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024

A pair of Union soldier letters written by Reynolds Everts who enlisted 8/16/1862 into "C" Co. PA 136th Infantry. He was mustered out on 5/29/1863 at Harrisburg, PA. Each letter has used corrected spelling to allow text flow. The first 4-page letter is datelined Fort Lincoln, Sept 22, 1862 to a friend. In part, “I like the soldiers life well except one thing, the exposure at night on picket on guard, we have to stand every other night. ... we work hard thru the day digging rifle pits and throwing up breast works ... the excitement is up ... the war has been raging heavy, they have been fighting all around us ... it is a constant roaring of cannon ... we see the smoke from the cannon ... the second Bull Run Battle at Manassas ... the morning at 2 oclock we were ordered to march. This was the first night we was here to Fort Lincoln. ... 2 thousand of us ... we stood there till 6 o’clock in the morning then we marched back, this was the morning the Bull Run fight commenced at Manassas ... The expected old Jackson was against stone wall ...” The second 4-page letter is datelined Fredric City, October 9, 1862 to his friend. In part, “We have marching orders this evening to Sharpsburg, the distance is 22 miles. ... I expect if old stonewall Jackson dont surrender there will be a hard battle there soon. There was 40 thousand soldiers came here the same time we came ... I think soldiering is a mighty hard life ... we are now close where they fought a Battle. The battlefield looks horrible, the horses and mules are lying in every direction over the field. There is soldiers buried so shallow that their arms and legs stick out

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