July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Edmund C. Wells, 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, 4pp. octavo, Eleven Miles West of Petersburg on the South Side RR, April 7, 1865, with cover, it reads in part: “...Things are being put through to the extent of human endurance. I have seen no papers for 7 days. Last Sat. Gen. Sheridan got fleeced soundly west of Dinwiddie CH. Every 4th man was left to hold horses and the bal. were dismounted to fight as infantry. They were driven back pell mell some 4 miles to their artillery which was unable to come up on account of the wet weather. it is said that Gen. Warren of the 5th Corps was to support him. Gen. Warren was relieved that night. Sheridan went in and captured about 5,000 prisoners. On Sunday we started with the wagon train and have been going most of the time since especially nights. On Sat. night the Rebel lines were broken and on Monday Petersburg was taken and on Tuesday Richmond went up. Our army has moved westward rapidly and yesterday there was heavy firing for 10 or 12 hours. We have been to the front and issued once and are now loading and are going out as soon as possible. The roads here in a wet time are awful beyond description. The sod is mostly sand and if we get through the crust there is no bottom. It is nothing to see a horse or mule drown in a mud hole....I have got some trophies to send but as it is uncertain whether this will reach you I will wait...If the Rebs were whipped yesterday it must be about the last of them. The boys begin to talk about getting home....Old soldiers say they never heard such noise as was made last Sat night. The fight was kept up nearly all night...” Near fine condition.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.