Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A good balance of twelve war-date letters written by Surgeon Perez R. Randall 5th (West) Virginia Vols. which show the division in families caused by the war. Randall, a native of Louisa, Kentucky, sided with the North during the war, and as his other letters in this catalog show, served valiantly against Stonewall Jackson in Western Virginia. By 1863, his wife was becoming increasing cold towards him and this grouping reveal why. Her allegiance was with the South! The first letter in the was written from New Creek, Virginia on March 13, 1862 while the last was written "On the farm 5 miles from Mayville, [Kentucky], August 13, 1865." The majority of the letters were written during 1863 and 1864 while he was still in the service with only two being from 1865 after leaving the army. Randall was discharged from the service in late 1864 and returned to a divided Kentucky to begin a new life with his apparently reconciled wife. The content of these letters split from the norm of typical Civil War letters in that Randall's letters mention much concern for having a "Secesh" wife, questionable loyalty of friends and neighbors, mixed political feelings that are over shadowed by a fear the McClellan will win the 1864 presidential election and of seeing Abraham Lincoln. Some of the content reads, in very small part: "…[Gauley Bridge, (on the Kanawha), West Virginia, July 28, 63]…Dear daughter…I have heard that it was very sickly at Louisa and that many had died…I received a letter from your mother about 10 days ago and it surprised me very much. She wrote as though she wanted to live with me again though she did not say it…said she should call me husband. She also spoke of the "Rebel Lee and his motley crew", what does this mean. She also wrote me that Perez should not go to Catholic school nor to Catholic meeting…I want your opinion…it is a serious thing for man and wife to part and more particularly after they get to my age when they can never…enjoy…domestic happiness…do you think she is sincere or does she think to "wind me round her finger" because I have a little money…any couple better live apart than to be together and guard all the time. She says she can forgive those that have injured her…I wrote her that I had never injured her intentionally…that I had never told her an untruth unless it was to keep down a fuss. I do not know what to do and as I have to stay in the army another year I thought that you might have a chance to find out Mahala's feelings and intentions better than I could. We do not have a very pleasant time in this Regiment…Col. Zigler is out…they want to get all out that were friends to Col. Zigler…it may be that they will try to get me out too, but let them…I do not know what I can do when I leave the army…I have no home now, the place in Louisa is sold…direct Gauley Bridge, 5 Regt. Va. Vols…[Gauley Bridge, March 3, 64 to his son-in-law]…we have Genl. Crook over us now in this Valley and Genl. Sigel over this division. I am acquainted with Genl. Sigel, [and] have been under him in East Va. He is a good man & Genl. We think there will be something done now in this division. Mahala [his wife] is here now on a visit. Has been for 3 or 4 weeks but is about to start home. She is all right except the worst Secesh you ever saw. We are both well…tell your father I do not hear much said about the Presidential election…most of our Regt. will vote for Lincoln. They think he had better finish his job. They will not vote for a butternut nor one who is suspitioned of being one…write me who the loyal men about your region of country want for President…write me if you think the debt for the house is good [and] if you think Murray will pay it…Mahala wants the money. She has a notion of trading…we are all for putting down the Rebellion in the shortest time…without much feeling [for] who does it…I hope that is the feeling of yourself & father…[Gauley Bridge, March 21, 64]…let me know all about the money due for the house & lot. Will Mr. Murray pay the balance…Mrs. Randall has been here…she is all right except a terrible Reb…we have…a raid to Louisburg…Jas. Reeder and one of the Packs were taken prisoner by scouts a few days ago but Pack got away and come in after a few days, but Reeder has gone to Libby…what did Mrs. Ferguson think about Col. Jamison taking Camp Chase…[Mayville, Kentucky, Sept. 30, 64]…my health is very poor. Some days [I] can not sit up…I must start back by Monday…I have a hard settlement to make with the Government before I am mustered out. I was very sorry you did not send the deed…it must come here for Mahala to sign and acknowledge unless we are both there…Ah Dick are you for Little Mac. If he is elected will they not withdraw our armies from all Southern Territory which will be virtually acknowledging the Southern Confederacy and give them their independence. Think of this not what I think…I do not want it said of me that I voted with the party to divide this Union…[Mayville, Nov. 15, 64]…I did not get my business settled at Washington. The clerks had gone home…I saw Honest Abe and he looked as though he expected to be elected again. How is it. Do you think he is elected sure…". Also included are seven (7) original transmittal covers and a ancestral note showing that Randall was born on March 18, 1803, married his "secesh" wife on October 4, 1825 and died on Aug. 26, 1867. Plus, a bundle of photo copy military and pension records from the National Archive are included. Overall VG. (12 letters, 7 covers)
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