2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Beautifully penned, lengthy 4 large 8 x 10 pages with remarkable amount of detail from "CAMP AT GUNTOWN, ITAWAMBA COUNTY, MISS., SEPT. 6, 1862." "Our late news very cheering. Latest dispatches state that our Gen'ls Lee and Jackson have again defeated the combined forces of the Yankees in VA under McClelland (sic), Pope and Burnside and that the Federal Army is entirely routed. We have taken 30,000 prisoners and a large amount of Commissary and Qtr. M. stores. McClelland and Pope are reported to be mortally wounded and our Army is 17 miles from Washington City. The news from Kentucky equally good. General Kirby Smith reported to have defeated 'Bull' Nelson at Richmond, KY and taken his whole force…including Nelson himself who is reported wounded in the thigh. …Dispatch says we have Lexington…as Smith was marching with all haste for that place and no opposition. …Last accounts say [Yanks] falling back to Nashville and Gen'l Bragg in full pursuit. All the Federal Army seem to be falling back to their Northern base which some shrewd Yankee says is the Southern line of Canada, to which they wish to draw us that they may freeze us to death. Gen'l Armstrong has also defeated a portion of the Yankee Army at Bolivar. Seventy of the prisoners taken by him arrived at Tupelo yesterday. ALL WE LACK NOW TO SCATTER THE WHOLE LINCOLN ARMY IS FOR GEN'L PRICE TO MAKE AN ADVANCE ON GEN'L GRANT AND DEFEAT HIM, WHICH WILL BE EASILY DONE NOW FROM THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE ARMY IS DISPIRITED. GEN. PRICE GETTING RESTLESS BECAUSE HE IS COMPELLED TO REMAIN HERE IN IDLENESS WHILE THE OTHER GEN'LS ARE GAINING SO MANY LAURELS AND SO MUCH HONOR. The Old Gen'l is quite sensitive on that point. He does not like for anyone to get ahead of him. …I feel anxious to be on the move and be doing our part to help our brave brethren in arms to accomplish our independence. …Price's popularity in Va. is almost unbounded… very popular in this State also. The people blame the president for not giving him a more prominent command. …My uniform came…entirely too large but had it altered to fit…am almost ashamed of the extravagance, but the officers of our Reg't have nearly all got them and it is required that the officers have them to be properly respected by the guards. I thought it looked a little stingy not to get it. …Why in the world don't some of you write…getting discouraged and nearly ready to say I will quit writing to you if your letters all get lost. …Sent 11 men to the hospital today... ordered to send all the men off who are not able to make a full day's march…we are allowed no tents but take six tent flies for 100 men…all indicate an early and rapid move [which] will be very pleasing to the men. They are anxious to be on the move…we have as good a Reg't as is in the service from Missouri. Col. Erwin has 800 fighting men all of whom have seen a good deal of service and have been in several fights…soldiers drawing no pay…received only two months pay ever since we have been in Confederate service…do not know when we will be paid again…most…getting out of money [only] partially supplied with shoes…[various] friends left from Missouri…[went] back to rally all the guerillas in the state…hope they may succeed but do not expect it…when on drill few days ago we passed a house where a young lady playing a piano. Halted my company…we got her to play for us…" at which point he warns his wife that the young ladies are very partial towards the Confederate soldiers from Missouri and if she doesn't write and he doesn't hear from her soon he might just take up with someone local ! Letter ends: "…we just got a dispatch that states the Yankee Army have crossed the Potomac at Washington and burnt the long bridge… citizens of Wash. in great consternation and flying from the city as fast as possible…" Light aging. Mostly exc. +. Three short clear tape repairs to minor fold tears on inside pages and few dark brown lines on folds on the last sheet, not obscuring any words. Accompanied by photostat of lengthy bio sketch of Capt. John Weidemeyer (who signed letter with full bold signature); commanded company of Missouri State Guard in 1861 that was mustered into regular C. S. service 1862, the outfit seeing much battle service; captured at Vicksburg and later exchanged, going back into service with the 6'th Missouri which was almost completed annihilated at Corinth, Miss. A remarkable letter for its newsworthiness.
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