2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
Union Soldier's 4pp letter written by Henry P. W. Cramer who enlisted on 9/12/1861 as a 1st Lieutenant into "A" Co. IL 50th Infantry and was promoted Capt 2/5/1862 . Henry is writing his sister Catharine, original cover included. Dateline, Camp near Corinth, Mississippi, September 26th 1862. In part, " I am glad to hear that Sam has grit enough to go into the army again. Was he exchanged or was he only paroled. If he was only paroled & the rebels capture him again, it will go hard with him. ... We had another engagement with the Rebels a few days ago at Iuka-a small town about 22 miles from here. Our men whipped them soundly. Our loss in killed and wounded from 150 to two hundred, killed about 70. Rebel loss 800 to 1,000 killed & wounded, killed about 300-at least our forces buried two hundred and seventy of the Rebel dead & of course they had not found them all at that time yet. ... I thank God that the President has finally proclaimed the slaves of Rebels free. I think it will go farther towards putting down the rebellion than any other one act that could be done. I am not an abolitionist by a long shot, but if freeing the slaves will tend to end this war, for God sake, free them, & in addition to that, we can never have lasting peace in the United States while slavery exists in it. ..."
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