1862 Civil War Letters, NJ Volunteers MD & VA Feb & June - Army of the Potomac

Description

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1862 Civil War Letters, NJ Volunteers MD & VA Feb & June - Army of the Potomac
Product description
1862 Civil War Letters, NJ Volunteers MD & VA Feb & June -  Army of the Potomac
For sale are two letters written by Captain Benjamin D. Coley of the 6th New Jersey Infantry Regiment in General Hooker's Division.. Coley entered the Civil War as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company K before eventually moving up to Captain of Company I. The two letters are stored in an envelope addressed to his sister Elizabeth Gudgeon (sp?) on Cherry Street in Philadelphia, PA.
These letters tell the early story of Benjamin D. Coley's life in the Civil War where he started as a 2nd Lieutenant. We researched him and it's an amazing story of a man born in England that emigrated to Philadelphia as a young boy. He then worked for a businessman before eventually joining the war. He served with honor and distinction, eventually being promoted to Captain for his service. As a member of the New Jersey 4th and later 6th Regiments, he would have fought in both the First & Second Battles of Bull Run, the Peninsular Campaign, and many other famous battles until his medical discharge in March of 1864. You can search his name to see a photo of him and a story of his life after the war running a grocery business in Camden, NJ.
Letters Overview:
The first letter is written on Gen McClellan Letterhead (McClellan was removed from command within 9 months of this writing) and gives some insight to a soldier's life shortly before the Peninsula Campaign began with the Army of the Potomac. The Second Battle of Bull Run shortly followed.
The first letter includes the following header::
Camp Baker Lower Potomac, MD
Hooker's Division
Feb 28th 1862
Letter Summary:
Benjamin D. Coley is writing to sister about the conditions of camp as the mud is drying and seasons changing. Discusses a hurricane knocking over many of the tents and destroying some of the camp, but he says his spirits are high. It's shocking to read that because he then writes that one of his fellow soldiers fell sick suddenly and died within 24 hours and they don't have information on his family so they buried him in a burial ground at a local farm. He also discusses how eight men have died since they left New Jersey due to Typhoid Fever and Congestive Fever according to the doctors.
While continuning to discuss the weather and the Paymaster's arrival, he casually mentions how he sees the Confederates across the river while they were drilling and they fired blank rounds at them expecting the rebels to return fire but was surprised when they didn't.
Condition: This letter details Benjamin's life in Camp Baker and details some small skirmishes with rebel soldiers before the Peninsular Campaign. It is in excellent shape considering its age. The envelope is still intact with some small tears and was opened on one short side. The letter is folded and has a few small tears but the ink is only slightly faded and in great shape. Please see photos as they are an extension of our written description.
The second letter with "The Late Colonel E.D. Baker" letterhead includes the following header:
Camp Lincoln, VA
June 20th, 1862
Letter Summary:
Benjamin writes to his sister from Camp Lincoln (outside Richmond) about having a good appetite and being happy with the food and clothing he has recently received since before there was a limited supply. He writes about feeling in good spirits and being under the command of General Hooker and how small skirmishes in the woods with the rebels have fared. One of the most interesting parts of the letter mentions how the rebels don't shoot at his brigade when its their turn to picket, and they don't fire at them either. Between those war anecdotes and him talking about his fellow soldiers being buried in Virginia never to return home, it really gives you a sense of the human aspect of the Civil War that is lost in many historical accounts. He also mentions his family and their business in Camden, NJ.
Condition: This letter is in excellent shape considering its age. The letter is folded and has a few small tears with some stains, and the ink is more faded than the other letter. Please see photos as they are an extension of our written description.
Please look at the following Ebay numbers for his other letters:
383674721637
383674726275
1Z
Bubble Mailer
1L
DP
8/12/20
Militaria
CW Letter 2
(BRL - Ephemera)
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