December 2013 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 17th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/17/2013
Civil War autograph letter signed, "S.E.P." by Sgt. Sylvanus E. Parker of the 76th New York Infantry. Letter is datelined from "Camp of the 76 NY / Near the yelow House / On the Weldon RR". Uncorrected for spelling errors, the soldier's letter to his wife reads in part, "Dear Beloved, yours of Oct 25th is resievd. Today Oct 29th [1864]. It found me well But some lame and prety tired For we just returned to Camp last Night from a Reconossance in forse to the left We started for the South Side Railroad with the intention of taking it at all hasords The 9th Corps was agoing to take it and we the 5th Corps wer agoing to help hold it But they did not take it and we did not hold it No No The Nigrows was agoing to charge a Fort with 13 guns in it for a 35 days Furlow But But they did not take it so the poor felows wont get their 35 days Furlow The 2nd Corps was a going to flank the Rebbils But they Did not exactly But came very near it so Near they drove the Johneys out of their first line of werks and on into the Woods and on they went But the first they know their is Johneys in their Rear + at their Right + left + Frunt and they ar Surrounded And they have to cut their way our or be captured and It is sayed Gen S Grant + Mead wer with the 2nd Corps at the time The Johneys captured a lot of our Ambulances But we Recaptured them Of all flanking and out flanking on both sides that I ever Saw this beat the hole apart of the time we were in the Johneys Rear + apart of the time they wer in our rear We had them fairley flanked and at another time we had firing in front + Rear at the Same time And at another time they had us flanked and if they had onely tied the string they would of had us Baged But the joke was We did not know soon enuff that we had them flanked neather did they know they had us flanked Soon enuff or they would of Baged us shure But I guess we killed mor for them then they did for us + took more Prisoners then they But Some of the Boys who was in the Wilderniss Fight say It leaves the Wilderniss in the Shaid all except we did not have so meney killed But Emilyey I am all right I did not get hit by a Bulet - Tho I was some what Skered I was not hurt excepting my left knee is very lame but I do not know wat is the mater the Dr thinks I have strained it + in a few days it will be all right agane. I am very glad you got my money…S.E.P." Parker was one of the few members of the decimated 76 New York who survived long enough to see the regiment absorbed into the 147th NY Infantry. On 28 January 1865 he was transferred into Company G of the 147th. He fought at Gravelly Run and had his left leg amputated on 30 March 1865. Parker died of the wound the next day. Letter runs 3pp. on a single sheet of pictorial stationery printed with a wartime poem titled, "Wait Till You Get It". Measures 5" x 8". Toning and creasing, else near fine.
Civil War Letter From Grant Meade of The 76th New York 5th Corps of Black Soldiers -- ''...We had them fairley flanked and at another time we had firing in front + Rear at the Same time...''
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