Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Maryland Confederate artilleryman's letter, 2pp. 4to. written by Pvt. Robert Chew Jones, 4th Maryland (Chesapeake) Light Artillery, Bunker Hill, [Va.], Oct. 2, 1862, to his mother, in part: "As I left Maryland unknown to you and many of my friends I promised myself to write as often as I could…a Marylander joined our company yesterday. He told me all about home…what a great consolation it would be for me to receive an answer…[from my dear fiends in Talbot [County, Md.]…when I do write I intend it for all. I neither write to gentlemen or mention names…I hope this racket will soon be over, pleasure is worth a struggle. I don't intend to fight anymore. I am expecting an appointment under the Government and have no doubt but that the influence of my friend Major Griswold (who is Provost Marshall of Richmond) will obtain it for me. I think under the circumstances that i am perfectly right in leaving the field. I have lost my right arm [in an accident] and have been in battle since. But I now find a soldier's life…too hard for me. I have done more than I expected to do and now I am glad to leave the field with the proud consolation of having been a Southern Soldier in Southern peril. I hope my friend Dick does not entertain the slightest idea of joining the army. Now is the time for him to make money. He can do his country more good by working at his trade than of being in the field…there must be some excitement in Maryland on account of the enrollment, driving many from their homes. I trust to Heaven this war will soon be over. I am sick and disgusted at it. If the leading men of the North would only walk over the field of battle or go in some hospital and se the suffering they would not be so eager to carry on the war. But as they begun the game we will see it ended…I heard that A. P. was in Fort Warren…I often think of them and have written six letters to them which I hope…they…know the difficulty in sending a letter to Maryland…". VG
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