Raynor HCA 2013-07
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/18/2013
A good Confederate soldier's war-date letter, 2pp. folio, written by Pvt. Ambrose M. Hite, Co. H (Page Grays), 33rd Virginia Infantry [POW Spotsylvania May 12, 1864], [n. p., n. d., but late Feb. 1864], in part: "Three of our boys were whipped Feb. 21st. There names are Henry W. Koontz, John W. Morris [POW Winchester, Va., May 4, 62], and John Parks [deserted June 9, 63 arrested Dec. 15, 63]. H. W. Koontz got twenty five lashes on the bare back and to forfeit 4 months pay. J. W. Morris got thirty nine lashes and forfeit six months pay. J. Parks got thirty nine lashes and forfeit some pay. They were tied to a large black oak tree. Their feet were tied at the bottom of the tree and their hands tied above their head to the tree. They were whipped with a cowhide which made the blood come. It turned their backs black. This whipping is very hard to endure…I should not like to under go it. The rest of the boys sentences has not been read out yet…Emanuel Rothgeb is in the guard house yet. He is nerely sheered to death for fear of being shot. They will not do much with him. The lieutenant is trying to get him out of the guard house…Gen. Longstreet and his army are going south…it is reported that our brigade are going to the valley as soon as the roads are dry enough to travel …the Yankys are left the Rappahannock river…it is reported…that Indiana, Illinois and Ohio are calling their troops home and dares Old Abe to send a army after them to bring them back. They say that they are not going to fight against us any longer…the papers say that the war will be over by the first of June…I do not think there will be much more fighting done…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG
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