2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Soldiers letters written to Amanda King of Almond, New York, 1863-65, includes: Seven letters by George King, 1st New York Dragoons & 19th New York Cavalry, to his sister; Five letters by John Cottrell, 86th New York Vols; and four letters by Samuel A. Wescott. King’s letters read in part: “...I saw the Lincoln and Union guns. The union gun weighs 49099 lbs and the Lincoln gun weighs 52,005 lbs, if you should see them you think they were great big trees...they are secesh here [North Carolina border] I mean all of the citizens. When we came it made them put on long faces for they were in hopes that the place would be evacuated...I went to a dance, it is a funny sight to see soldiers dancing by moonlight with no ladies with them....there was two Regiments of Penn. drafted men with us and 1 battery of Artillery and three or four companys of mounted rifleman. We were all under the command of Col. Gibbs...the mounted rifleman and the rebs umounted...had alittle skirmish with them and drove them back...the general thought it useless to persue them...took 8 or 9 Rebs and 6 horses we had one mounted rifleman wounded...I was glad to hear that Wellsville had gone Republican and I hope it will go the same in the Presidential Election for this fall election will do a great deal toward prolonging or closing the war...” More. Most VG...plus; Cottrell’s letters, in part: “...I’ve been so lucky this summer in escaping wounds & disease...sometimes I thought I would not give much for Cottrell chance, but I have thus far escaped was wouded once in the pants, did not bleed any though...We have done very hard fighting & marching & now find the Rebels very strongly fortified in our front. The charging has for a time been stopped & now the slow process of siege is going on. I hope there will never be an occassion for another bayonet charge. Such sights are enough to make one heartsick. I’ve been engaged in them, will go again if ordered...[8/6/64] the Rebels charged a portion of our line held by the 18th Corps. Our Corps (2nd) is on reserve & not knowing but the Rebels would break the line...The 18th drov them back. It is reported this morning that plenty of the Rebels were killed...The position that Lee holds in front of Petersburg is one of the strongest he has been in during this campaign. I dont think Grant will succeed in driving him out...” More. VG...plus; Wescott’s letters, in part: “...We are nearly one mile from camp ready to meet the grey backs in teh land of Dixie. They want Suffolk, Norfolk, and Fortress Monroe but they ain’t got them yet and I don’t think they will...I am the only one in our company that got wounded this trip and I hope there will be no more wounded as long as they are in teh service...there are 80 wounded men herein the same ward...” VG.
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