2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
Confederate soldier’s 4pp. letter written to his mother, by James K. Lewis who enlisted on 5/5/1861 at Henderson County, NC as a Priv. into "I" Co. North Carolina 16th Infantry. James was Killed on 7/1/1863 at Gettysburg, PA. Datelined: Near Fredericksburg, VA., June 2, 1863. In large part, “We have orders to be ready to move at a moment's warning. The enemy is moving up and down the river, both at the same time. We have doubled our picket posts and are looking for a battle every day. We are anxiously looking out for news from Vicksburg. I am afraid the Yankees will get that place if they haven't got it already. Wm. Con was at the hospital in Richmond. When I heard from him last, he was improving. He was dangerously wounded, shot through the neck by a minnie ball. I don't see how it even got through where it did without cutting his windpipe or jugular vein.... Lewis Lawrence, an old acquaintance of mine that I knew at Greenville, now belonging to Co. D 37th N. C., is condemned to be shot today for desertion and running out of a fight. I pity the poor fellow. He was as good a boy as I ever saw, but he didn't have the right kind of nerve. He ran twice and he is to die for it today in the presence of his brigade. Another fellow named Rutherford is to die at the same time. One was shot for desertion in the 49th Va. a few days since and charges are made against several in the 16th N. C. for desertion and misbehaving in the presence of the enemy. Some of them will be sure to catch it. One of Co. I who is in Henderson jail now will be shot as soon as we get him here. ... Gen'l Pender has rec'd his promotion at last and a new division is formed, We will be under him. Still Hoke is in command of the Brigade now. I don't know who will be our permanent Brigadier. I wish they'd appoint Alfred M. Scales (the Col. of the 13th N. C.) to that office. He is such a good-natured old fellow, all his Regt. like him We serenaded Pender last night & Col. Conner of the 22nd N. C., formerly Major of Hampton's Legion, congratulated him on his promotion. Old Pender got to choking so he couldn't talk at all, and at last broke down and got to sobbing right out because he was going to quit us. I have been wanting to go to the 6th N. C. for some time to see Sam Young, John Lockhart, Leathers and the other boys, but as we are looking for a movement of some sort every moment, we can't leave camp at all. Father needn't be uneasy about the Yanks hanging me as a spy. I don't have to go out unless I choose to volunteer. I have to go out as a sharpshooter always and sometimes as at Chancellorsville, volunteer as a scout to take a view of their fortifications. I did it there by penetrating their line of pickets and took the plan of their position and works and the distance so our batteries could have ruined them. Tell Con Young I can fight with a better heart now since she took to prophecy, knowing Hemp to be my fate, I needn't fear lead and as for my laziness, if she could have seen me Tuesday morning, when we sharpshooters went up on Sigel's whole line of 20,000 men and some 20 pieces of Artillery, if she could have seen me getting over double trouble going back to our main body, she'd have thought I was brisk enough I guess. That escape put me in mind of old times when I was a little shaver at Halifax Court House. We boys would slip up to a hornets' nest sometimes and knock it down with a pole & take to our heels when the hornets would come out. It was just so this time. We whipped in the Yankee sharpshooters and then crept up to where we could see the Yankee line of battle, 300 yds. from us in another field. We raised our sights, took rest on the old trees and logs and poured in a volley or two into them while they had their guns stacked. They seized their guns though and the last rascal of them cut loose at us. We had to run back 400 yards before we could get shelter from their fire, but they didn't kill but one and wounded some 3 or four more. ... I don't think I can get along here much longer without fighting. ...”
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