CIVIL War Ny Soldier Letter 138th Ny To 97th Ny Comrade Who Is Kia
An Original Civil War letter from19 year old Corporal Edison Jesse Harkness, 138th NY Infantry (9th New York Heavy Artillery) at Camp Morris, December 13, 1862 to his friend- he is in winter camp hauling logs & building 12 x 16' shanties,, they are doing the work of "mules and jackasses" to garrison Forts Mansfield, Reno and Gaines, and a bomb-proof at Fort Mansfield. He has artillery and infantry drill, names comrades working on the fort for extra pay and is now Corporal of the Guard, sitting around the campfire and trading stories, is grateful Burnside is attacking the rebel forces (The Letter dates during Burnside's defeat at Fredericksburg). He is heartsick visiting the hospitals including Washington and "beautiful Fairfax CH Hospital", and the soldier burial grounds, "poor fellows " who are "buried so far from home". He was sent to DC on errands and visited the Capitol where they "Blundered into the Senate and House of Representatives where they saw many great men" incl Sumner, King, Wade, Harris, "the assembled wisdom of the nation". He also went with a comrade to visit the "boys of the 111th" near Fairfax CH, and ", also mentions various comrades incl Jerome Warren who asks that he " take care of all the girls.
The letter is signed Yours Truly EJ Harkness. 4pp 8 x 11 ink.
Folds, minor age stains, edge wear, Overall Vg w Exc content. Comes w postal cover addressed to his friend S. Lamphere Esq, Ontario, Wayne Co.
Lamphere also from Auburn, enlisted w the 97th New York in 1863, was taken prisoner at the battle of North Anna, and died a POW 2 weeks later. The 97th NY lost over 300 men in battle or as POWs dying in prison, etc... The cover is complete, with age stains, Overall Good.
Comes w service info- Harkness, survived the War - in 1863 he was promoted to Captain, 6th USCT. NOTE: Any repair to a paper item is listed.
I use only museum curator approved archival repair tape. All items are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic and in the condition as described.