July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Confederate soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Matthew Ferrell Magner, who served with the 11th Mississippi Infantry, the 1st Virginia Cavalry, WIA at Manassas, then joined Mosby's Rangers, he participated in numerous skirmishes, fights, and scouts from April, 1863 until the end of hostilities. Lieutenant Magner was captured on July 18, 1864, and was threatened with being "hung" in the streets of Paris for being a Mosby Ranger. He escaped Union imprisonment at Harpers Ferry on August 6, 1864, dislocating his shoulder in the process while forced to swim the Shenandoah River for his freedom. This letter by Lt. Magner is 4pp. quarto, from Richmond, March 19, 1863, and reads in part: “...Yours of various dates per Capt Keen[ possibly Robert Garlick Hill Kean (1828-1898) ‘head of the Bureau of War’] has been handed to me by him. I had to go & see the boys as I had some letters & I promised to hand them in person when I took them but they were in North Carolina. Consequently I could not see them, they are now camped on the Black Water in Va. I don’t think they will remain there long as active spring applications will begin in a very few days. I don’t think Capt Kean’s recruits feel contented in their new sphere of life. Little Dr. Coleburn looks very wild. I think your uneasiness about Miss F’s marriage is unnecessary. I dont think unless she liked W. she would have given him all the encouragement that brought them in daily contact...When she thinks that I was awed by her majestic & dignified presence she not only misses the mark widely but makes one grand mistake. Now madam as far as dignity is concerned Mrs. dr. Freeman does not possess it to such an alarming extent as to cause one tremble when has shared the Perils of a two year’s campaign & done his alloted part in more than one dozen different bloody battle fields. She must fancy herself Josephus a Pauline or perhaps the celebrated Madam (De Stael) however enough on that subject....There will be a desperate light here in a week or two. Lightening Joe Hooker is making all imagenable perpartions for crossing the Rappahannock but he will not...when he attempts it Jackson, Lee & Stuart are on the alert & the event will be hailed with joy by the anxious Army of veterans on this side waiting to contest their claims on Richmond. Longstreet & his army are southwest of Richmond but if their presence is required at Fredericksburg he will be there in time to wind up the ball by an oveture of grape & cannister. There is no use in speculating on the close of the war, there is one consolation it is bound to close some time & I think after this summer’s fighting we are going to have a terrible time, this coming campaign. I hope I may be spared to return & go down on a fishing party with you...in this state green backs are selling in Richmond to blockade runners at three in Confederate to one green back. If you can get me some reasonable I would send & get five hundred dollars worth. I understand they are not sought after like they were when I was there, let me know when you write. I took that little pistol I promised you down to the camp & gave it to G.W. Morton to be forwarded to you by the first reasonable person going home...” More. Very good condition.
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