September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
War-date Union soldier's Autograph Letter Signed by Henry A. Wiley, 104th New York Vols, 4pp. octavo, Cedar Mountain, Virginia, February 19, 1864, and reads in part: "...we are so far from home and entirely cut off from society, especially that of the ladies. We are apt at times to become low spirited...Nothing will cheer up a soldier like getting a good long letter from some dear friend. It seems to revive ones spirits and brings to remembrance a fond and enduring association of other days...War is a terrible calamity to befall a nation and especially so when it is a civil war and among people like ours. You are almost entirely ignorant of the effect war has upon this country. Nothing but desolation remains when our armies march. The houses are torn down to build our shanties the fences are all used to kindle our fires and in fact the very ground is so trodden up that it will take many years for it to recover from the effect if ever....We are (as no doubt Pa has told you) at the extreme front a position of honor as well as danger, some would say, but we can't see it. There is no more danger here than further to the rear unless the Rebs should try to make a raid into our camp and then immediately retire again, as a sufficient number of troops could come on support in a few hours at most to repel any attack which might take place. Our regiment is very small at present fifty men having gone home on a 35 day furlough....I was over to Stephens burg last Monday to see a review of the cavalry div by Kilpatrick and Mead. They were reviewed by Maj. Gen. Pleasanton. It was a splendid affair...." Very good condition.
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