Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
A great Confederate soldier's letter, 2pp. 4to., by Pvt. James F. Cameron, [KIA Gettysburg, 7/2/63], Co. B, 11th Alabama Infantry, "Camp near Fredericksburg, Va.", Dec. 25, 1862, in part: "…I am proud to say that I have lived to see another Christmas day…we are…75 miles from where we was 12 months [ago]…we have roved over a many acre and mile of land since this day twelve months ago. Our ranks has been thinned so I can not help but think that the Confederate guard [Co. C, 11th Alabama] would cut a doleful fire in the little village Clinton [Alabama] compared with the last parade we had there. Times has bin very quiet since the fight but the Yanks are yet living close neighbors to us [and are] just across the river but…the trip they taken over hear will satisfy them for a while. The Yanks acknowledge the loss of 18,000 men in this fight at this place…I suppose you have herd of [Orlander] Goree and [Moses H.] Basking being wounded. They are both dead. Goree died on twenty first or 22th I forget which. We received the boxes of clothing…they were a great relief. Most all the boys has on a clean suit this morning. I got a shirt & pear pants…they come in mitt good time for me. I was the ragest fellow you ever saw. I need a pear of boots or shoes very bad…we have had seen very cold weather hear this winter…I see in the papers that Old Seward has resigned from Lincoln cabinet and that Burnsides is superseded by Gen. Fremont. Every general that gets a whipen they supersede him write off. This is [a] very dull Christmas nothing to drink and hardly anything to eat. I had nothing for breakfast but dry bread, but I am contented. I will bare and put up with anything to defeat these Bloody thirsty vilgants. Several of our boys was over there in Yankeedom yesterday and bartered tobacco for shoes, boots, sugar, coffee etc. They say that Gen. Burnsides could not get the old soldiers to come over the river in time of the fight. They refused to come. They say that none but fool raw recruits could be maid to come….excuse this misspelt letter for no one can write surrounded by as many fuss making fellows as there is hear…Jas. F. Cameron." Most of Cameron's phonetic spelling has been corrected. Expected soiling and folds, else VG
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