July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
Forty-Three Percent of this fighting regiment was killed or wounded. Of the 2,047 regiments that served in the "War of the Rebellion" only 45 lost more than 200 men killed or mortally wounded in action. Of the "300 Fighting Regiments", the 45th P.V.V.I. is ranked 18th from the top. with a loss of 227. It's total loss by death-killed in battle, mortally wounded, died from disease and death in Rebel prison camps - was 479; total of killed and wounded in an enrollment of 1,960 was 873. At the battles of Cold Harbor and Poplar Springs Church the losses was over one half of those going to battle. The archive of 14 pieces includes: 9 printed/written letters on official “Survivors of the 45th Pa. Vol. Inf.” letterhead. this group ranges in date from June 1900 through July 30, 1910. All have printed or written signatures of “R.C. Cheeseman” as President and “A.D. Albert” Secretary. [R(owland) C. Chessman, enlisted on 8/20/1861 as a Private, into "A" Co. PA 45th Infantry, mustered out on 7/17/1865 at Alexandria, VA. Cheeseman had a notable career rising to the rank of Major. He suffered multiple wounds, 10/10/1863 Blue Springs, TN., 6/18/1864 Petersburg, VA., 6/30/1864 Petersburg, VA., POW 9/30/1864 Poplar Springs Church, VA., wounded 4/2/1865 Petersburg, VA (Severe wound in right leg, amputated). A(llen) D. Albert, enlisted on 3/27/1862 as a Private, into "D" Co. PA 45th Infantry, was discharged for wounds 5/6/1864 sustained at the Wilderness, VA on 12/9/1864.] The content of each deals with the writing of the Regimental History of the 45th. Six envelopes included. ... plus, Regimental Newspaper, “Fighting Regiment” 4pp., 8-1/2” x 11,” nd [circa April 1910], includes the Death Notice of Major R.C. Cheeseman, as well as other regimental updates. ... plus, ALS on regimental Letterhead of “Comrade Roberts” (Treasurer), April 29, 1910, 1pp., laments the death of Cheeseman. ... plus, List of 36 numbered names “Negative Sept 1904,” presumable keying a reunion photograph (not present). ... plus, Autograph letter signed “Papa” Oct 10, 1864, 2pp., with content of the Petersburg siege. ... plus, Autograph letter signed “Papa Frank,” June 26, 1911, 2pp., personal content. The regimental history was published in 1912, “History of the Forty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry,” edited by A.D. Albert.
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