July 2016 Auction Ends Thursday, July 21st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/21/2016
Collection of 17 Civil War-dated letters by John Stackenwalter of the 178th Pennsylvania Infantry, and 3 letters by his cousin, Porter Line of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Before being captured and held at Libby Prison, Stackenwalter wrote to his father, describing a soldier's life and various skirmishes, such as one in this letter dated 4 January 1863: ''...We are now in Yorktown in the fort and I like it good...last night we got marching orders at eight o'clock in the evening, the rebel cavaliers did brave our pickets an then every man have to go on his post in the fort. It was about 4,000 men together and it was so still that you can hear a pin fall but they didn't cared they came take our fort. We have about 12,000 men in our fort...and we have five gunboats on the river...'' Letter dated 8 February 1863 from Yorktown: ''...I let you know that we get some Rebles every now and then yesterday they brought in five Rebel cavalry men and horses and on the other side of the river they said they had a hole company of Rebel cavalry guarded that they will bring here...it is expected this place will be attacked before long...we heard great firing last night I suppose it was up at Williamsburg or past about 12 miles from here...'' Letter dated 28 March 1863 from Yorktown reads, ''...the Rebels is not far off from here...but I don't think that 40,000 Rebels can take this fort it is too well fortified...'' Letter dated 29 March 1863 reads in part, ''...a little disbach from Williamsburg the rebels did attack them last night they did bring our wounded men in the husbiddle [hospital] in this fort and I think our men must give up these and must retreat...'' Also from Williamsburg on 28 April 1863: ''...We moved out of Yorktown on this side of Williamsburg. It is about twelve miles from Yorktown. The rebels are close to us. Our camp is on this side of Williamsburg and the reb camp is on the other side of Williamsburg. We are only two or three miles apart. Our picket and the Rebel picket can talk together...'' On 13 May 1863 from Camp Columbia he writes, ''...We are at the old place yet near Williamsburg...Gen. Hooker did retreat from Fredericksburg but he is on the way back again for to make another attack but our men done well with them last battle when they did fought our men did capture a heep of men...'' After his stint in the 178th, Stackenwalter then enlisted as a substitute in the 162nd PA Infantry, where he was captured and transferred to Libby Prison. Dated 13 October (no year) from Winchester: ''...they have captured 40 peases of artillery and 12 of cannons and captured about 200 hundred of rebs this week...'' Collection includes one letter dated February 1865 after Stagenwalter's release: ''St. John's College / Annapolis MD...I was captured at Bunker Hill the 16 of Sep. was taken to the Libby Prison at Richmond then to the hospital where I remained till last Sunday morning when with over a thousand others I was paroled and after a three days sail reached here this morning at day break. Was slightly wounded in the shoulder but am doing well. Am in quite comfortable quarters and hope soon to be able to take a furlough and make you a visit. Beside the wound I am very well. Would like you to write me as soon as you can. Let me know how you are getting along...'' Lot additionally includes five of Stagenwalter's post-war letters dated 1866-69 from Louisiana, and his Bible. Also included are 3 war-dated letters from Stagenwalter's cousin Porter Line of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The first letter, dated 24 January 1863 reads: ''Dear Uncle / Also you want to know about John he did not hear anything about him. I think they must sent him to Richmond...'' Letter dated 1 December 1864 reads in part: ''I must tell you about John. The last I heard of him was the night he was captured, and I did not hear of him since, but as soon as I hear enything of him dead or a live I will let you know...'' Letter dated 25 December 1864 from ''Camp 17 Cavalry'' reads in part: ''Dear Uncle I received your kind and welcome letter a few days ago and was glad to hear from you that you are engaging good health at the present...Christmas is dull with us here...Also you would like to know if John's pay can he get if he should not return you can get every dollar that is coming to him from the time he was mustered...to the day he was captured but if they hold him as a prisoner it can't be got till he is exchanged but we did not hear anything of him since he was captured. Also I will let you know that our cavalry went out on a raid last Monday and they have not returned yet...'' Accompanied by Stackenwalter's pocket Bible and the tin used by the soldier's family to store the letters. Most letters measure 5'' x 8'' on patriotic stationery. Some toning, overall very good condition.
Letter Lot by Two Civil War Soldiers -- ''...the rebel cavaliers did brave our pickets...It was about 4,000 men together and it was so still that you can hear a pin fall...''
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