Description:

CIVIL WAR CORRESPONDENCE OF SGT. JAMES H. MCCOY
Good lot of four letters (three war-date), from Sgt. James H. McCoy of Co. A, 115th Ill. Infantry, to his wife Ann, 13pp. 8vo., from various locations in Alabama and Tennessee. McCoy writes, in part: "...Gen. Stanley gave orders not to burn a rail of the fence...an hour after a staff officer rode along and said the field belonged to a reb. The men made a rush for the fence yelling...before five minutes not one rail was left...we got into Union country at last and I can see a remarkable change in the looks and intelligence of these disciples of Parson Brownlow's doctrines...took possession of a hill & have fortified it...almost every citizen in the part of the country is ready to act as a spy...they came in and told us the rebs were advancing...brought in word that 2000 rebel cavalry was marching toward Cleveland [Tenn.]...most of those who were conscripted by the rebels have deserted them and gone into our army...the farms are small and niggers scarce than in other places in Tenn..." He then teases his wife, describing how one married soldier showed a local woman a picture of his wife, claiming it was his sister - and was then revealed as a liar. McCoy also jokes that the photo he had of his wife was: "so ugly that I threw it away". In his June 6, 1865 letter he notes: "...I may get home pretty soon after this letter. You need not write any more. The drums are just beating tattoo which means bed time with us...or rather it once did but now, we don't pay much attention to rules, except where they suit us...". Overall condition very good.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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