Description:

UNION SOLDIER'S LETTER FROM PETERSBURG
Soldier's letter by John Cotrell, Private, Co. D, 86th New York Infantry, 3pp. 8vo., ‘In trenches near Petersburg', Aug. 21, 1864, to ‘Friend Amanda', in part: ‘…I don't know what I would do if I did not get letters from my friends. Well I think I would be get lonesome almost to death. I think you will have had a nice time gathering hops & if I was one of the Boys I think I would like it better than being in a place where we have to keep down our heads to keep from being hit with shot or shell (We have to now)…Since I last wrote we have been across [the] James river again. We had quite a severe skirmish. Three of our Regt. were wounded. We come back the night of the 19th. I marched through rain & mud about 20 miles where we are now. We have holes dug in the ground & covered with dirt. Then there is little holes left in the sides. In those miserable places we have to crawl into when the Rebs throw over their shells. They shelled very hard to day. It is anything but pleasant to be in such a situation where we are liable to be killed at anytime…I don't expect to be home very soon…'. Neatly penned, with the original transmittal cover postmarked Old Point Comfort, Virginia, fine condition.

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January 18, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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