Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A great war-date Confederate aristocrat's letter, 2pp. 4to., written by a certain Mr. "N. W. P.", Petersburg, [Va.], July 7, 1862 to his mother-in-law in Maryland, in part: "Having just heard of an opportunity…to let you hear from us all that are down here in "Dixie"…Mr. P is [a distinguished lieutenant colonel] in the army & has received distinguished and honorable mention several times. On one occasion quite a public notice in the [Richmond] Enquirer. It is thought he will get some higher position soon. Owing to my leg which has not improved…I have remained at home quietly attending to business which…has been very good so far & if our independence is achieved will do me some good. Everything has prospered with me & I wld. be…a contended & happy man if this awful war was ended…I try not to think of you at home fearing there may be sad changes since we last parted. God grant you may all be preserved until this painful strife is ended & that we may meet again at our old home. I have non doubt you get exaggerated accounts of the [?] & high price of provisions down here, believe about one half of what you hear and you will understand things better. It is true all things are double & sometimes triple…but the rich & moderate men are all making money & [they] give liberally to those who have not not. No one can suffer, the poor have been the especial care of the rich & are provided with work & means to such an extent that they are better off than usual. Articles of luxury such as coffee, tea & fine dress goods are very scarce & high but all persons cheerfully submit to the depredation & we get along as well if not better in our home…you know I am a dear lover of coffee. Well I am happy to say I have not yet been without it & if my present stock shd. become exhausted before the war is ended I will only have to pay the price & get more…McClellan got quite badly mashed on his way to Richmond…I don't think he will try again soon. If he does we are ready for him. There are now in Richmond seven general prisoners, 2 Maj. & 5 Brigd. Genl. besides a large quantity of prisoners of inferior rank supposed to be about 10,000…Sept. 10th 1862. I have just seen Nat W. Jones…who leaves for Maryland & promises to get this to you if possible…". Worthy of further research as we believe that the officer mentioned in this letter is John Edmund Penn (1837-1895) who became colonel of the 42nd Virginia Infantry losing a leg and captured at Antietam. VG to near fine.
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