2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Datelined "Camp near Gaine's Cross Roads…16 miles west of Warrenton, Va July 10, 1862." 4 page neatly penned letter by Lieut. John Fox of the 2'nd Mass. to friend. Apologizes for long delay in writing "…as the career of our little Army has been so eventful…[describing much extra work piled upon him] which has left me everything to do and little time to do it in. …Should have written immediately after our retreat to announce my safety…[but] the papers were much ahead of the mail and their accounts of everything of importance connected with that eventful skedaddle [in northern Virginia]…since that time we have been laying on our oars at Winchester, with the exception of about two week spent at Williamsport…made a three days march to present camp…the weather hot, our men suffered much…lost nine men from sunstroke…a good many fainted. …If the bullets continue to spare me I expect to bring home a better constitution then I carried away. I don't feel in the mood for relating the particulars of our varied life [writing that some day he will bore him to death with war stories and hopes his friends]…won't forget the poor devils that are fighting for his great inheritance. I thank heaven that this great fight wasn't shifted onto his generation. OUR FAITH IN, AND ADMIRATION FOR GENERAL MCCLELLAN GROWS DAILY AND HOURLY. THIS GREAT GENIUS HAS MADE A VICTORY OUT OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEFEAT TO ANYONE ELSE. As he said, the war may be bloody, but I think we begin to see the end if he is not interfered with by amateur campaigners at Washington. Although signed only "John" he writes directly below name his current address at "Company I, 2'nd Mass. Regiment" along with colonel's name and "Gen'l Banks Army Corps." ACCOMPANIED WITH original fancy printed, large 10 x 16 commission by the Governor of the "Commonwealth of Mass" appointing John A. Fox 2'nd Lieut. in 2'nd Mass. Regiment under authority of President of U.S. who has required state "…to furnish certain regiments organized under…and to serve in the Vol. Military force of the U.S…" Dated 6 Jan., 1862. (Exc. +.) Also photostats of reg't's and Fox's history with it.
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