Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
A good pair of war-date Confederate soldier's letters, 4to and 8vo., totaling 4 1/2pp., written by Pvt. William Snead, Co. F, 45th North Carolina Infantry, the first letter is datelined, Richmond, Va., Aug. 28, 1862 and, reads, in part: "…the yellow jaundice is raging in camp. Several of our boys are down with it. Our regiment left Petersburg last Tuesday…and marched four or five miles beyond Richmond…they took the cars for Gordonsville…I took the train to Richmond…I was in hopes that we would be sent back to North Carolina but alas there is not hope for that now. We will be kept in the western part of Virginia the balance of this fall unless kind providence providers something better for us. There is but little hope of peace being made soon. Five hundred prisoners were brot into Richmond this evening and twenty five more will come tomorrow. They were taken by Gen. Stewart [Stuart] somewhere near Warrenton Springs. Stewart and Jackson are said to have repulsed Gen. Pope's Army and that he (Pope) is in full retreat. McClellan has left James River with his fleet and gone to some other quarter. It is thought that he has gone to reinforce Pope or Buell or Burnside. Times are very hard on this section everything is very high. They sell sweet potatoes by the quart at fifty cents…". The last portion of the letter is light with content and signature difficult to see. The second letter is dated from "Camp 45th N. C. Regt., March 4, 1864" and reads, in part: "…I would of wrote to you sooner but have been on a tramp nearly ever since I got back to my company. The Yankee cavalry has been attempting to destroy the Rail Road from Orange C. H. to Richmond & did destroy a portion of it, but it will soon be repaired. We are expecting a fight on the Rapidan River soon. We have orders to be ready to march at minutes warning. I would be glad if I knew the fighting was all over for this war so as peace could be brought about for I want to come home worse than I did when I did come…I hope the lord will spare me to meet with you after this war is ended…William." Also included is a postwar 1873 tax collection letter mentioning Confederate veteran Obadiah Sneed who had served in the 44th North Carolina and was most likely Williams' brother. Overall VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.