2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
A union soldier’s 4pp. letter with original cover written to his sister by William G. Whitworth who enlisted on 8/9/1862 at Grand Rapids, MI as a Priv. into "A" Co. Michigan 6th Cavalry. He was listed POW 5/6/1864 Wilderness, VA. and finally William died a POW at Andersonville. Datelined: Gettysburg, Cumberland County Penn., June 28th/63. In large part, “Perhaps you will wonder when you see the heading of this letter for I find myself among our own people. We crossed the Maryland line today before 12 o'clock and we are outside the above named town about 12 miles from the line and in sight of where the Rebels were last night where they destroyed a railroad bridge and 17 cars. I assure the people were pleased to see us come through. There are two Cavalry Regiments, 5th and 6th Michigan. It is a week ago today we went out on a reconnoiter in Virginia. We were gone four days in the saddle day and night. We came back to Fairfax and started the next morning as a rear guard for the baggage train. We crossed the Potomac that night after dark without any serious accident and through a heavy rain which made it very unpleasant. We came through Maryland, a most beautiful country. What a difference from that and the state we had just left. Everything looks promising. the best looking wheat that I ever saw and splendid stock, horses, and cattle. Almost every little town that we would go through, the waving of handkerchiefs and flags and they would run out with bread and butter, cakes and fries, and the last town we came through where I am now writing, they hurrahed and sang national airs and greeted us in every way possible, and we wondered when the Rebs were in town the day before yesterday, and they ransacked the stores and threatened to shoot the women in some instances, because they would not give them some information regarding the telegraph office, and when they found the office, the operator and everything was gone, so they didn't make much that time. The report that Lee is marching through Cumberland County in three columns and threatening everything before them, his forces are said to be 40,000 strong and more coming across the river. I think they will have a fight at Antietam, the old Battle Ground. I am not posted about our number nor any of the plans of Gen. Hooker, but I hope that they are such as to entirely frustrate the plans of Gen. Lee. He says that he is dying to capture all the Yankees, but he has not done that yet. I hear that they are near Harrisburg, and I think that is where we are steering for now. Any way to take the Rebs. There is a report that the Rebels have taken Fairfax, but that cannot be so because we were down to the Rappahannock River and we saw nothing of it. My health is first best. In fact the boys are all in good spirits and ready for anything. ... I make no doubt but that you will hear a big story about the Rebels, but you must not believe everything you hear, for we have seen it in print that we were all captured once, but we did not know and don't yet. It may be that we may some of us be taken prisoners, but I shan't believe until we are taken. I only wish that we had been here when they were burning the railroad bridge. I think if we had pulled our Spencers at them, they would have been glad to have left. Well, I have scratched this sheet over and I didn't think we should stay here long enough for that. I thought I would make the attempt to let you know of my whereabouts. I haven't had a letter from you in two weeks. I presume there are several on the road. I don't expect we shall get half of them, for we shan't stay long enough in one place to get the mail forwarded to us. Well, I must give my love to you all, and I hope by the help of God, we may win a decisive victory over the enemy, from your affectionate Brother, W. G. W”.
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