Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
Another great war-date Confederate aristocrat's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by a certain Mrs. "S. W. P." [the sister-in-law of the man whose letter appears above], Petersburg, [Va.], July 7, 1862 to her mother in Maryland, in part: "…is this wretched war never to end-wretched for many reasons & not one of the least is the total deprivation of communication between families who sometimes are unfortunately separated by principles as well as distance & oppression…God in his infinite wisdom alone knows the extent…men's passions will will lead & he only can foresee when the end is to be. I am at Father P's…I dined there yesterday & you all were spoken of & our separation deplored…it is difficult to refer to without great grief…everything in the shape of wearing apparel & eating is high but plentiful enough to satisfy any but unreasonable human beings. Willie says money is more abundant than he ever saw it & you must not think we are suffering indeed our corporation authorities provide for the poor & few are who withhold at this crisis-the donation to our soldiers or their families. I know little of Susie. I was down there in Feby…Edward being Austrian consul I should think he could write without trouble…my husband got through a long illness & has since greatly distinguished himself on the field as Lt. Col. I would give you one extract, but do not deem it advisable…he has recently been in a terrible series of battles & has come off so far without a scratch with honor to himself which will of course descend to his children…Mrs. Brady her husband is Capt. & stands well. She said she had not heard from home since the middle of April. Justine has gone to live with her mother having lost or sacrificed everything…cant you write by "flag of truce"…Willie [her brother-in-law] is going to write himself. [His letter appears in this catalog.] Let us trust God will put an end to a war so cruel & unholy…". Worthy of further research as we believe that the husband/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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