2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
A great Union quartermaster department worker's letter, written by a certain " W. B. Conner", Kingston, Tenn., Oct. 31, 1864 to his cousin, reading, in part: "- you do not really mean to say that your 'Kentucky friend' has forgotten you already. It does seem strange - that the 'fair sex' are so fickle. I do not wish to think so but the unpleasant truth is forced upon me and my admiration of the 'fair' is greatly diminished. You refer to Miss. Minnie W. - I saw the fair damsel in Detroit about six months ago, but have been completely cursed with reference to the lady and only hope that I can steer clear of them all. I know of no person that likes ladies' society as much as I do and no one - pays more attention to the ladies than myself but as to falling in love it is a thing I never do - Kingston - is situated at the junction of Tennessee and Clinch rivers. The quartermaster I am with has charge of all the Govt. works here. We have been building steam boats, manufacturing limber and digging coal to supply Knoxville and Chattanooga - since we have been here we have built four steam boat, have manufactured over a million feet of lumber and have 'excavated', my word, many bushels of coal. This will give you some idea of what I have been occupied about during the past seven months. Before that time we were 'in the field' and I was in K. during the siege of that place by Gen. Longstreet when we came very near starving to death and but for the timely arrival of Gen. Sherman we would have been 'gobbled up' by the rebus and perhaps would have been looking through the 'grate bars' at Libby - address me at N. A. I will be there on my way to Hilton Head, South Carolina before long. Your Coz. W. B. Conner."
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