Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
Union soldier’s letter written by George G. Pilkington who, on 8/8/1862 mustered into "E" Co. PA 126th Infantry. and was Mustered Out on 5/20/1863 at Harrisburg, PA. The 4pp letter is datelined Camp near Sharpsburg, Md. Tuesday (September) 21st, 1862. Pilkington had just learned about the death of one of his best friends. Pilkington writes “I was disappointed when I read it for I thought you had found Wilson’s body and heard that you was going to take it home and have a decent burial but I hope it may be found yet for I would like to have him buried in the Methodist graveyard. When I heard of Wilson’s death I was in Boonsboro but on the way to the battlefield Jim Brotherton stepped up to me and told of it. ... I never received such a shock in my life before I left as if something heavy had struck me on the head and with a sickening feeling I sat down on a step in front of a house. This is all I knew until I saw Jim Brotherton standing in front of me the big drops of sweat was running over my face and the boys told me that I had fainted from the time of hearing of the death of Wilson. ... oing through Shepherdstown the ladies held their noses shut for fear of smelling Yankees and they tried to plague us in different ways but we did not keep much account of them. We advanced on the Rebels on the other side of Shepherdstown who commenced shelling us but they soon run when we begun firing on them. ... The first day the shells flew around us thick some bursting above our heads others plowing up the ground quite near us but only several were wounded in our Brigade. That night it rained all night. We were without tents and me without blanket or anything to eat. The second day we run them 2 or 3 miles further then started in the evening for home we crossed the river that night and it was dark as pitch. Pap fell down on the other side of the river and hurt his shoulder a little. The Rebels followed us to town that night and are now on the other side in force. ...” Also included a letter to Pilkington from his mother.
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