Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
Three Union POW war-date letters by Private Thomas Capern, Co. "E," 4th New Jersey Volunteers, 14pp. total, 8vo, with two conforming postal covers, one without a letter, and a partial cover, Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, to his mother in Morristown, New Jersey, reading, in part, "(11/2/62)…It is a dull place here…It is also a very unhealthy place. Nearly all of us here have the diarrhea. I pray to the Lord to keep me healthy and strong and return me safe someday to my reg….I am in want of underclothing, such as drawers and undershirts. So I wish for you the send a box…When you send the box send some medicine to purity the blood…(12/4/62)…There is a great stir in camp because they say we have been exchanged. The report is that there are arms and equipment come to Annapolis for all of us…One man of out Co. has gone the way of all the earth…He was another victim of Belle Island...won't drill or do duty until they give me my exchange papers…(12/9/62)…I went to the Express office and upon opening the door I spied a box with my name on it…How thankful I am that the box arrived as it did for the report is from headquarters that we are going away from here…" Assuming he did make it back to his regiment, Private Capern was in for quite a wartime experience as the 4th New Jersey would participate in Gettysburg, Spotsylvania and the battles around Petersburg. Capern survived to muster out in June, 1865. His letters are crisp and in fine condition.
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