-40%
Soldier's letter describing the defenses of DC and sleeping on Bull Run graves
$ 184.8
- Description
- Size Guide
Description
Soldier's letter describing the defenses of DC and sleeping on Bull Run gravesSoldier's letter describing the defenses of DC and sleeping on Bull Run graves
Click image to enlarge
Description
Civil War soldier’s letter from an atrocious speller describing the layout of the massive complex of forts and camps in Norther Virginia where tens of thousands of Union soldiers lived in tent cities, some on top of Union graves from the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). Private Moses B Aldrich. Alexandria, Virginia: 1862.
This two-page letter is datelined “Near Alexander va Nov 13th 1862.” It is complete with an inch of toning along the top edge. Short .5” splits starting at the ends of one mailing fold. A transcript will be included.
Aldrich was a member of the 12th Rhode Island Infantry. The regiment mustered into service on 18 October 1862. It was immediately deployed to Washington, DC and assigned to Casey's Division. It encamped near Arlington Heights and Fairfax Seminary in Northern Virginia as part of the Union’s defense of the Capitol following its defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas).
In his letter, Aldrich reports:
“as to the country it is all ruend hear if the North was in the same shap as the south is I think they might began to grumble for all you can see har is tents for a fur as you can see and the ground is all trampld up wee are a mile beyond fair fax cemnary and 2 miles this side Alxander on the East fort Elsworth on the south fort lions on the west fort Worth on the north fort Blanker we are about in the midle of them sence I left Washington I have not seen a fence nor a stoon wal nor cant see one for as far as I can see and I can see for 20 miles. . . . you think that five hundred are a good meney but if you bee on revue whare thare is 25000 as thare was last Sunaday you might think tham was a fine. they say that foks don’t sleep with dead focks but I don’t bleeve it for I have sleep with ded fooks thay were fixen our tent and the ground was uneven and in digen it level wee dug one foot deap we dug out a man that was bared in a fue days after the battle of bull run under whare I sleep but all of the ground is full of Dead hear”
He also mentions that he visited Alexandria where he saw the place of Colonel Ellsworth murder, purchased some song sheets, and was horrified by the number and condition of the sick and wounded: “I was yesterday to Alxandr and see where Col Alwerth was kiled in the Marchall Hotell and when I come by the north of Alxander and see the wounded and sick and disabled solgers thare is 16000 of them the most disgraded beans that I ever see in my life. . . . You can tell the girls that I bot some songs for them when I was to Alxander but lost them out of my pocket but I will get some more for them”
The occupation of Northern Virginia was peaceful, with the sole exception of Alexandria, where Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth was killed at the Marshall House hotel while removing the Confederate flag flying above it. For seven weeks Union forts were built along the Potomac River and planning was begun to construct a ring of camps to protect Washington. Following the Union defeat at Bull Run, makeshift camps and forts were built throughout the Arlington region to defend direct approaches to the Capitol. Forts Ellsworth, Lyon, Worth, and Blenker (later renamed Reynolds) were some of the most significant.
#9263
View My Other Items For Sale
Payment
PayPal is preferred for both US and international payments.
Other methods of payment may be possible.
Shipping
Domestic Shipping.
Most orders are shipped to locations in the US at no additional cost. If not, shipping costs are set at a flat rate on an item-by-item basis.
Media mail shipping--when available and appropriate--is inexpensive but may take between two and four weeks, especially if delivery is to the west coast. If a quick delivery is important to you, please request USPS Priority Mail or some other expedited delivery service before paying.
International Shipping. International shipping is usually done through the eBay Global Shipping Program. I know that this can be expensive, but I've switched to this method because I've had too many claims of non-receipt by international buyers. If you contact me in advance of purchase it may be possible for me to ship directly to you.
If I ship directly, I will only ship overseas using a trackable method; this can be expensive, and it is non-negotiable. Also, I will only enter true information on customs forms; if you have a problem paying your nation's customs fees, that is beteen you and your government, I have nothing to do with it.
If you pay by PayPal, I will only ship to the shipping address specified by PayPal.
All shipments are covered by my business insurance at my expense, however if you would like to purchase additional USPS insurance at your expense, let me know, and I'll adjust your invoice accordingly.
Terms of Sale
Please don't assume anything that is not specifically stated or shown on this listing page. Ask any questions before you bid or make an offer.
If you win this item, you are legally bound to complete the purchase.
Unless specifically indicated otherwise in the page, returns will be accepted for full refund less shipping for any reason if the item is returned to me within 30 days in the same condition as it was sent.
Buyers are responsible for paying all return postage costs.
About Us
This is a Read'Em Again Books sale. Read'Em Again books is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), the Ephemera Society, the Manuscript Society, the American Philatelic Society (APS), the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, and the Military Postal History Society (MPHS).
We hope that you'll take some time to visit both our eBay store and our larger Read'Em Again Books on-line bookstore. We think that you'll find our prices to be very competitive with other internet book sellers. In addition to a nice selection of Americana, diaries, journals, photograph albums, and other unique personal narratives, we also maintain a small stock of children's books, illustrated books, unusual non-fiction as well as ephemera, philatelic items, prints, sheet music, maps, and occassionally postcards, antique toys & games, tobacciana, and breweriana.
View My Other Items For Sale
Pictures sell!
Auctiva offers Free Image Hosting and Editing.
300+
Listing Templates!
Auctiva gets you noticed!
The complete eBay Selling Solution.