August 1863 Camp near Orange C H Virginia Letter - John Plain, 12th NC Regiment

Description

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Absolutely an original item, not a reproduction.  This item is a "Soldier's Due" in philatelic terms--to denote an envelope without stamps but with the postage unpaid, sent from the front where soldiers did not have the ability to find stamps or money to purchase stamps.  The addressee paid the postage.
You are purchasing both the postal envelope and the original letter.
An original envelope MADE FROM A PREPRINTED MILITARY REQUSITION FORM with the original letter present, both are in excellent condition.  The letter is datelined "Camp Near Orange C. H. Va. Aug 3rd 1863" and is headed "My very dear Mother."  The Soldier's endorsement on the obverse is "John D. Plain, Co 'C' 12 N.C. Reg." and the postmaster at Orange applied a "ORANGE Va. AUG 6" black circular datestamp but forgot to apply a "due" marking, which would have been a "DUE 10."  A little bit of the pre-printed form shows in the lower left on the obverse.  Addressed to "Mrs. S. M. Plain, Wms Borough, Granville Co., N. Ca."  Content includes:
"My last letter was from Staunton, to which place I expected to return when I wrote but the day after I came up with the wagons under my charge we were joined by the whole train from Staunton.  I received three letters from you on Saturday, dated respectfully, June 6th, June 16th and July 23rd.  From the first one I gained the intelligence that Lucy was dead.  Poor creature:  I do not, murmured at any of God's dissatisfaction, and merely we have thus far been greatly blessed.  I was very glad to hear that Julia's eyes are improving and hope that they are now healed.  Tell her I should like to have some of the seton put in her neck though.  Your last letter was very welcome to me.  It was written so hopefully and cheerfully.  I join with you, mother, impoloring to God to aid us in this insanity and I believe his strong arm will be stretched out in time to save us...
"The general opinion now is that we are going to Richmond and that we will sooner or later fight there both Meade and Grant.  We had a fight near Culpeper on Saturday and the enemy, after diving in our cavalry, were repulsed by two divisions of A. P. HIll's Corps.  It is evident we are approaching a crises in our affairs, but I rust it will be prone to darkeness that precedes the dawn...
"There is a general satisfaction expressed that the 'substitutes' have been called forth and it is but natural I should judge from your last that our country is very quiet...
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