2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
Union soldier’s Group of Nineteen War Dated Letters written by Francis Pardee who on 8/24/1862, mustered into "K" Co. Connecticut 16th Infantry. He was captured on April 20, 64 at Plymouth, North Carolina and held a POW at Andersonville, GA & Charleston, SC. He died on Oct. 5th,1864 at Charleston, SC. Datelined: January 11, 1862 (actually 1863), Camp Near Fredericksburg, to his sister and mother, in part, “The Conn Regt had been camped and we aint got things fixed yet but as soon as we can get tools to do with, we are a going to have a fireplace in our tent. ...” Datelined: Camp Hartford opposite Fredericksburg, January 23, 1863 to his sister, in part “We have got a fireplace in our tent so so that we can keep it as warm as we are might and we can do all our cooking by it too. And I have got a big pail that I found when we was over to Fredericksburg and we can make enough for three or four to one mess. ....” Datelined: Newport News, March 8th 1863 to his mother, in part “Yesterday we didn’t have any drill and so Co. K all went out and played ball (baseball) and then in the afternoon, George Atkins and I went down to see a horse race about a mile and we had a pretty good time. This George Atkins that I’m tell you about is deaf and dumb Atkins that lives in Stafford the time we did. ...” Datelined: Newport News, March (‘63), in part, “Some of the troops have had marching, the 8th and 12th Con ... had orders last night to be ready on a moments notice ....” Datelined: Camp 16th Con., March 14, 1863 to his sister, in part “... I wish we could get paid off for I am out of money ... I am glad that father has left the saloon business ...” Datelined: Suffolk, Va, April 23, 1863 to his mother & sister, in part “We are still lying out by the breastworks but don’t see any signs of any rebs not I don’t think we ever shall. ... Estelle, I suppose you go to school every day, don’t you? You must be a good girl and try and learn all you can and try and help mother till I come home and I will bring you something nice. ...” Datelined: White House Landing, June 27th 1863, to his mother & sister, in part “We have had another route on the water. We was called up at three o’clock night before last to get ready to march. We then marched down about a mile down to the wharf and lay there till about 11 o’clock and then went aboard of the boat. We then started for the White House, it was called, about 70 miles from Yorktown to where we landed. ... This White House is where General Lee was born and where General Washington was married. This house is now torn down. There is nothing but the under pinnings to it left. It ain’t but a few rods from our camp. ... The rebs left here two or three days ago. They had been here and had got a fort built and was fixing the place for the guns so our folks drove them back. They had got a turn table fixed in the fort so that they could turn the gun clear around the fort and then they had got a railroad run from the fort into Richmond. They say that they was bringing in guns when our follks got here and drove them back. ... You spoke about the men being afraid that they would be drafted. I hope they will draft the right ones when they do draft. ...” Datelined: Camp near Portsmouth, Va., July 23, 1863, to his mother & sister, in part “There has two officers started this morning from our regiment to go to Connecticut after some drafted men to fill up our regiment. There is about 500 of them, I believe. ... I hope that there be some of them Republicans that have stayed at home and tried to get others to enlist so as to save them from going. ... “ Datelined: Camp near Portsmouth, Va., July 21st 1863 to his mother & sister, in part “ ... the General is here ready to review us just as soon as it blows off. The man’s name is Foster, He is a going to take command of this Division. ...” Dateline: Camp Tenant, Portsmith VA, August 6, 1863 to his mother and sister, in part “Thank mother very much for sending that two dollars ... we were not paid off today ... The rest of the boys are all well ...” Datelined: Camp Tenent, Portsmouth, Va., September 6th (‘63) to his sister, in part “ There is a good many down here with the sore threat. i believe I wrote to you some time ago about mr. Rowley that died with the sore throat in our company. ... I have had my bounty check and I wanted some money so bad that I let it go to the sutler and he paid me the money for it so I have had spending money about all the while. ...” Datelined: Camp 16th Regiment, September 26, 1863, to his mother & sister, in part “ You wanted to know what number my boots wanted to be. I want number 7s and I wrote in the other letter that I wanted a vest for it is getting pretty chilly down here and it’s pretty cold night down here ...” Datelined” Oct 7, 1863 Portsmith VA to his mother, in part “Thank you for sending that shirt ... I was sorry to hear that Fannie had another fit ...” Datelined: Camp Near Portsmouth, Oct. 25 ‘63 to his mother, in part, “Have you seen Henry Cook since he got home. We heard he had got his voice and am glad of it. I suppose his furlough will be up in about 10 days ...” Datelined: Camp 16th Regt Conn. Vol., Near Portsmouth, V., November 6, 1863 to his mother, “Our regiment started to see two deserters shot and got about half ways to where they were going to be shot and then heard that they weren’t a going to shoot them today so we turned around and went back to camp. But I heard that they are a going to be shot Monday and some say that they ain’t a going to be shot at all. ...” Datelined: Camp 16th Conn. Vol., Plymouth, North Carolina, January 31st 1864, to his mother & sister, in part, “ Last night there was a detail from our regiment to go out on a road and I was one of them and we took a ferry boat and sailed about five miles and then we met another squad coming back that went out day before our regiment so we turned around and came back. ...” These two letters were written by Silas Pardee a cousin to Francis. Silas served in Co. I, 25th Connecticut Infantry—a nine-months regiment that served from mid-November 1862 until late August 1863. Datelined: Baton Rouge La., Feb 22, 1863 to his daughter, in part “Josiah and I both work in the general hospital together .. I wrote to you about sending me a box of tobacco and a gallon of liquor Datelined: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 15th 1863, to his daughter, in part “I suppose you have heard the report about Joe’s gambling and drinking all is money away from Fanny, but it is entirely false and it will be proved by good respectable men as live in Plainville and Bristol. They are men that won’t lie. They have been with him every day and night and know what he has been doing while he has been out here and so do I, and I think them same folks would find enough to do to mind their own business ...”
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