Raynors HCA 2016-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/17/2016
War-date Union soldier's letter, 3 1/2pp. 4to., written by Pvt. George S. Youngs, [POW Harper's Ferry, Va., 9/15/62], Co. G, 126th New York Vols., "Camp in the woods, [Va.], Aug. 5, 1863", in part: "…we are about 5 miles from Warrenton Junction. Our Regt is scattered along this road from near Elk Run to a mile below this place…[much on brigade dispositions]…Monday afternoon our Regt was ordered along this road on picket. The companies are camped by themselves half or three quarters of a mile apart…we are guarding the line of communication between the Junction and the army…since the 126th Regt was mustered…what an eventful year has it been…of the 1000 men who left Geneva there is but 300 left…how many will there be a year from now…I would like to be up there to give some of those conscripts a little advise. I would advise them to come just as we did…and above all…bring a blue cotton umbrella, the prevailing style of the Pennsylvania Militia, who according to Governor Curtin so nobly drove the dastardly enemy from the soil of the old Keystone State. He congratulated them on the achievement…also the Army of the Potomac…[good description of all they carried to the front as new recruits]…the doctor tells me there are but few men in the Regt that are not complaining of something…he was telling us…it would be better for us all if we would not eat but three hardtack a day and drink cold water…I told him I could not live on that…he looked at me and said he guessed I might eat all I wanted…I think the action of the common council of…Rochester to be just…if the rich can exempt themselves for 300 dollars let the poor have the same chance. I hope the government will not get a man under that law…as I understand it now it only takes those who are…poor as to be unable to pay 300 dollars. If they want men let them take rich and poor…and exempt no one …the man I wanted to see drafted the worst is drafted namely George B. Smith [95th New York. Discharged for disability in four months]…George S. Youngs". The original transmittal cover is included. A bit light, else VG
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