2024-07 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024
An unusual U. S. Military Stores Department supervisor's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written on, "U. S. Christian Commission" stationery, by a certain "E. S. Parsons," Point of Rocks, Va., June 20, 1864, to his daughter, C. N. Parsons of Blairsville, Pennsylvania, in part: "In my progress towards Richmond I have reached this place - and are connected with the 18th Army Corps - commanded by Smith and has done much server fighting. This place is on the Appomattox [river] between Petersburg & Fort Darling- the Rebs have a fort on the opposite side of the river which prevents our forces from taking possession of the town though they are close to it & command it with guns. This place is - where John Smith was so near losing his life when Pocahontas saved it - I have been - at City Point - on our canal barge - in charge of stores. Have had some pretty sever labor in lifting & carrying, loading & unloading goods - selecting & dispersing stores - this morning [I] petitioned to come to the front where I shall spend the remainder of my time - if my health holds good. I feel very well now but this morning was a good deal under the weather from horrid smells & working & sleeping in the hold of the barge and drinking tea & coffee made of, ugh! Water taken from the river, thick with mud, rotten vegetables, excrements etc., etc. Yesterday I too the tea & coffee hot as possible, after that & drank Dismal Swamp water furnished us at Hampton Roads. This is very high colored [water] by the roots of cyporus - is not very bad to take if one is thirsty - is said to be healthful - we are expecting to change from this locality as our fortunes follow the movements of the Corps to which we are attached. My six weeks of service will be up the 1st July and I feel under obligation to stay it out if I can - unless I should find myself so much exhausted as to [?] before -this will depend upon the movements of this part of the army, but it is tho't - that our labor may not be as severe as it had sometimes been at the front - E. S. Parsons." A contemporary pencil notation at the upper left front page, reads, "To C. N. Parsons, ? Rev. S. N. Shopley, Blairsville, Pa." Overall near fine.
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