November 2013 Auction Ends Thursday, November 21st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/21/2013
Civil War soldier letter from Pvt. Dwight W. Stannard of the 97th New York Infantry. Dated 12 May 1864, Stannard's letter to his wife from his bed at Harewood Hospital reports his experience in the Battle of the Wilderness. Uncorrected for spelling errors, letter reads in full, ''My Dear Wife, I thout I would improve a few moments in writing to you to let you know that I am still a live I suppose you have heard the news before this time I went in town a fite last Thursday and I got a lite wound in the backbone it was a spent ball that hit me if it had not been spent it would of kild me as did as a nit it hit me rite whare my hips set on tow my back bone it wont last long I think I will goe back in the cars of a week or tow but I dont think I will doe inney more fiting if I can help it we had the hardest time you ever heard of as ever will hear of it was rite in the thick wood Ira [Simmons, 146 NY] was in the fite befour I was and came out all right but the regt suffered awfull Charles is missing, Some think he is kiled and some think he is a prisoner it is harde to tell whare he is but I hope he will come out all right yet our regt got [illegible] this time the most of them are wounded not but a few kiled in this fite tho what their is in same because their was not much chance for to use artilery their is one of the boys out of my company hear with me he is wounded in the arm he is brother to John Koats wife you need not write to me till you hear from me agane for I dont think I will stay in this hospital longe I think we will be moved soon at least I hope so. I think those men that are slightly wounded will be put intow a camp by them selves and make room for them that are worse off than we are this is all for this time I merely wrote this to content your minde because I new just as soon as you saw it in the paper you would not sleep a wink till you heard from me I am mity glad that it is not enney worse than it is if I dont move from hear in a few days I will write you a gane So I will close by bidding you good by for this time I hope this will finde you and that little man well and I hope I will live to see the time when I can come home and see you all this from your most affectionate husband yours truly, D.W. Stannard''. Stannard lost his arm the following month in the Battle of White Oak Swamp but survived the war. Runs 3pp. on a single sheet of ruled card-style stationery. Measures 5'' x 8''. Creasing from mailing. Near fine.
Civil War Letter Following the Battle of the Wilderness by Private Dwight W. Stannard of the 97th New York Infantry -- ''...a spent ball...hit me right where my hips set on my backbone...''
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