Description:

CONFEDERATE SOLDIER'S LETTER WITH POEM WRITTEN DAYS BEFORE GETTYSBURG
Fine content A.L.S. of Pvt. Noah Deaton of the 26th North Carolina, 4pp. 8vo., Wilmington, N.C., June 23, 1863 and Winchester, Va. June 30, 1863 to his friend, first as he was awaiting a train, and then upon his arrival in Winchester a week later en route to the Pennsylvania border. Following his rail journey north, he writes, in part: "...We came through 4 tunnels through the mountains the one through the Blue Ridge is 7/8 of a mile and it is the darkest place I ever saw we set out for this place distance 92 miles and have a hard march making 20 miles a day the road runs on the west side of the Blue ridge...the yankees has been all through this section and have laid waist [sic] many fine farms and burned much fence...we will set of from here in the morning to hunt our regiment it is either in Maryland or Pennsylvania it will take us three or four days to march to Pennsylvania it will probably be difficult to get to our Regt. as the enemy are constantly making raids between here and our troops and have captured some that were making their way to their commands there is stirring times... over in here now our forces are invading the enemy[']s country now as will as them invade us..." On the last page, Deaton has added a five-stanza poem, "Soldier[']s Farwell" that reads, in small part: "The time is now fast coming on When we poor Soldiers must be gone And leave our homes and native land Now give to me your lilly [sic]hand. Farewell farewell my dear sweet heart The time has come we now must part Perhaps will never meet against While on this earth we do remain..." A fine letter evoking the uncertainty surrounding Confederate troops in the days preceding Gettysburg. Usual folds, light dampstains, else very good.

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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