Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
War-date Union soldier's letter, 10pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., Union Mills, Va., Jan. 22-23, 1863, in part: "…we are enjoying the "Sacred soil of Virginia"…the mud is only as high as my knees…our new Gen. [Alexander Hays] is quite a different man from D Utassey. He is riding all over seeing to everything himself. He has considerable experience too. He has been in several battles and has been wounded a number of times. He was wounded once so that he carries a cork leg with him. Sunday he caused the long roll to be sounded at daylight to see how soon we could get out and form a line of battle. He rode along the line and inspected us, said that would do and sent us to our quarters. The next four hours was spent in preparing for inspection…Tuesday I was detailed for brigade guard. I was on the third relief…I had stood the full two hours before he came…the fire is made in the middle of the tent on the ground with a hole in the top of the tent to let the smoke out…shortly after I got back to the tent it blew over and burned up. We were glad of it for although we were obliged to stand out in the wind and rain it relieved us of the smoke…Sunday morning we were called up by the long roll…at half past four , double quacked half a mile from camp when we turned round and came back…it was another false alarm caused by the Gen. to see how quick we could get out in fighting order…you say you wish you could believe the words of the old song which reads "Might is with the right"…I do not know whether I…believe it…for it is not a settled thing…Jeff Davis prays that God will favor them and Abe Lincoln prays that he will favor us and I don't see but that Jeff's prayers are as effective as Abe's. I suppose you will think I am a regular "Secesh" but you ought to hear the boys…you would think all their sympathies were with old Jefferson D. In speaking of the contraband's song. Do you refer to the one which runs in this wise, "Say darkies hab you see de massa wid the mufftash…go long de road, sometime dis mounnin…he seen de smoke way up de ribber. Whar de linkum boats lay. He took his hat and he lef berry sudden and I spec he's run away…de darkies say oh ho. It must be now de kingdom common in de year ob jubilo…this was a very poplar song in Chicago…I had the pleasure of hearing it sung…at the theatre when they played the Octoroon…I liked the tune very much…[Jan. 23]…I was detailed for Pioneer yesterday…when I have hard take I make what we call "Jum Jam". There is three ways of making this dish. The way I generally make it is…I take a chunk of grease and put it in the pan, break up my hard tack in the pan, pour water over it and cook it soft…George S. Youngs." The original "DUE 3" transmittal cover endorsed by Chaplain T. Spencer Harrison is included. VG
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