2nd Kentucky Cavalry POW Group

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

Group of nineteen letters and twenty covers of Corporal William S. Wall, Company E, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, who fought with Morgan on his great raids through Kentucky and Ohio, where in the latter Wall was captured with the entire regiment. These letters are written from prison while Wall was interred at Camp Chase (2 letters & 2 covers) and Rock Island (17 letters & 18 covers). They read in part: "…I think it would be a good idea, for you to continue boarding with Dr. P. because it would be much cheaper than keeping house. You can rent your house, and hire the negroes, which…would bring you an income…Nothing occurring- each day but a repetition of the preceding one, the only variety being the occasional arrival of a fresh batch of prisoners, who generally know but little of what is going on in the army - most of them captured at home…I found two of the boys, belonging to Dick's company, in the prison - Jenkins (son of Brock Jenkins) & a young man Jackson, from near Leesburg. They were captured about 25 Nov. at Missionary Ridge. Dick was not in the fight…but was on the ground, & saw it all….He is looked on by the boys as the coolest man, in a fight, and one of the best Sergt. in the Regt. and was reduced about the time of Murfreesboro fight, by Lieut. Beale, for daring to know more about tactics than Beale did…I wish you would get me a Jacket (Ky buttons) pants off the same piece…My jacket is entirely worn out, my underclothing all worn out, & my shoes will probably last a month… I see from my front door, that the Yankees have put up a picture gallery, just outside of the fence, and understand that the Rebs will be permitted to patronize it. Hundreds of the boys will avail themselves of the opportunity and I would like to send home, some pictures of myself, but unfortunately have no money and cant do it…A few prisoners have been arriving here from St. Louis and Alton…more are expected from Louisville. & c. and I did understand that all of Morgan's men from Camp Douglass, would be sent here…It is said that all the prisoners in the Western Prisons would be sent here…This place has capacity for 12,000 men, and there is but about half that number here at present. Exchange is played out, or rather is suspended, and will probably not be resumed until Old Grant's Campaign, in Virginia is over or until he has made an attempt on 'the slaughter pen' with all of his 100 day men. Shall he succed in taking Richmond, the Exchange will be indefinetly postponed…but if he fails this time, it will only be after a struggle, which will last for months, and will cost him the lives of many thousands of the unwilling Abolitionists, who are being dragged from their homes, to be sacrificed on the Altar of the next Presidential election. I have no fears of the safety of Richmond - for, I think that Lee is abundantly able to defend it against the whole Yankee nation…You did not tell me, about the fire in Cynthiana - who was burnt out, and what damage was done to the Town. I was very much afraid that our property was destroyed…I have never heard of the tobacco yet, as all prisoners are not honest, and these will doubtless put themselves to precious little trouble to find me & I don't know who to go to about it. More than half of all prisoners are either stragglers or deserters, and a good soldier is rarely ever captured…I wish you would send me some tobacco. I have been without, now, for 2 months, and have no money to buy any…I am suffering for it…That was a desperately foolish idea in Jim Garrett, going to Canada…In his state of health he surely was not afraid of the draft…Enclose a shin plaster occassionaly…I have been begging & borrowing Tobacco since last June - have traded all my stamps for tobacco and want more stamps…I must have some tobacco - and I want you to send me 10 pounds. I have been begging from my friends all the past summer, and am ashamed to continue to do so…I would imagine, you would find it cheaper to rent your property, hire out the negroes, and board - that would be my advice. How are your Negroes disposed - are their heads filled up with ideas of their own consequence, and with being free?...Willet left here last week on the oath - his experience in the army was short & sweet - started from Boone Co. to enlist in the command, was captured on the road & brought to Prison where he had his first & last sight of Confed. Soldiers…" All VG. A nice grouping of Confederate POW letters.

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).