March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Good lot of four Civil War letters by George L. Plumhaff of the 97th Illinois Infantry, Co. A, stationed in New Orleans. Letters to his wife date from 18 January 1864, shortly after he enlisted, to 6 July 1864, about five months before his death on 3 December. First letter from Camp Butler reads in part, '''...we had a large fire here on Saturday morning about 4 oclock. It burned up a Captain and leutenant and another man was badly burned'...'' Letter dated 1 June 1864 from New Orleans reads in part, '''...we had quite a fire here last Friday. 8 steamboats & two small schooners'...During the burning some shells exploded on one of the Boats causing a rush by the crowd on the levee. Such a running I never saw. Some dropped behind Barrels, boxes, wood, etc. On the levee there were a great many large iron water pipes & they were full of men who were desirous of escaping the death that they thought awaited them outside. It was amusing to see them peep out to see if the danger was all over'...'' Letter dated 6 July 1864 from New Orleans, ''...There was a grand celebration of the 4th of July here. Salutes fired by the batterys, speeches by Major Genl. Sickles'...one man'...got his arm badly hurt by the discharge of one of the guns'...the Rebels are very bitter here especially the women. They insult the 'Yankees' wherever they meet them on the street. All the Registered Rebels have to leave town & go across the lines to their Rebel friends in the 'Confederacy'. Hope they will have a good time of it if the Rebs mistake them for 'Yanks' and fire into them why all the better. We can easily spare a few thousands of these traitors. This order for these New Orleans Rebs to leave comes I believe from Genl Banks...'' Letters average three pages each. Legible and in very good condition.
Four Civil War Letters by KIA 97th Illinois Infantry Soldier -- ''...a great many large iron water pipes...were full of men who were desirous of escaping the death that...awaited them outside...'
Click above for larger image.