2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
A great early war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. William H. Schlosser, Co. D, 9th Pennsylvania Volunteers, on "First in War, first in Peace and first in the Hearts of his Countrymen" George Washington patriotic stationery, Martinsburg, Va., July 8, 1861", in part: "- we are at Martinsburg, Va.about 13 miles from Williamsport, Md. There are about 23,000 men around this town. We crossed the Potomac on July 2nd and went that day about six miles - on July 3rd we entered this town - the first day we marched here our advance guard were attacked by the rebels at the Falling Waters. They were the 1st Wisconsin Reg. and the 11th Penn. Vols. under command of Phaon Jarrett [colonel 11th Penn. Vols.] of our county. We lost two men and 7 wounded. The rebels lost about 65 men so one of the deserters told us. The Rebel - left this town in the morning when we come in. There were about 5000 men - four deserters came to us yesterday. They told us that there are 19 regiments encamped within six miles of us. They average from 350 to 800 men to a Regt. They said that there are very poorly clothed and very poorly fed. They say there is only one good Regiment there and they are from Mississippi. They have the four shooter Rifles [Sharp's Carbines]. There is a paper printed in this town since we are here. It is printed by the 2nd Penns. Vol. - on the 4th the first paper made the appearance - I am going to bring one home if I ever come home. Martinsburg is the place where the traitors have burned then engines & bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. There are 47 engines that are all burned up and a large bridge is burned. There are 300 cars here loaded with coals that are burning yet. This town has about 5000 inhabitants and is the county town - it has the nicest machine shops in this state - everything is stopped now. We had few Secession flags in our field - but [now] in place where they did wave The Union flag is waving now and long may it wave over this Old Dominion State - we have orders to make us ready to go out on Picket guard for the next twenty four hours about 2 miles from our camp - the rebels are trying to surround us. They were firing at each other the outer posts. They were seen on - the right and left of us but they were only seen through spy glasses and they went back again and by that operation we lost our dinner - this town have 3 companies in the traitor's army - William H. Schlosser, Martinsburg, Va." Schlosser was discharged on July 29, 1861 at the end of his regiment's service. He enlisted twice more during the war. First, with the 128th Penn. Vols. in 1862 where he saw action at Antietam and then again in the 41st Penn. Militia during the Gettysburg campaign in 1863. Near fine.
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