111. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Battle Near Mannasses

Charlestown, West Virginia: March 28, 1865
At the end of the war, Kelley sees more battle than he has in the previous four years. He writes: "Just got back from a 10 day raid in the direction of Mannasses Junction + Fairfax we had about 400 out of our best 80 men VA cav + about 600 Infantry the cav had a fight with Mosely + White rebble cav. We lost in killed, wounded + missing 47 men out of our regt. The Rebs lost the most in killed + wounded They lost 10 officers in killed + wounded the most of into our hands. Lieut. McNeal Reb that captured General Crook + Kelly in Cumberland in the Winter was killed one of our men shot him after he surrendered." He continues, "the same night we skirmished with them for three days killed a good many of them. General Hancocks boys is encamped all around us. There must be in the neighborhood of 40,000 men in this section. If the Johneys thinks (to) visit this direction they will run again a circumstance." Kellley concludes that he is "hoping Soon to see an end to this war am getting tired of it although my time is not a great while yet." He is to be decommissioned in June of 1865. With envelope and stamp.

100/200     SOLD: $235.75

112. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Camp Life

Charlestown, West Virginia: January 29, 1865
In a short note, Kelley writes to his sister again thanking her for the care package she sent him. "Must say, " he remarks, "that the turkey was the nicest turkey I ever Seen everything you Sent was verry nice, + relished as none but the Soldier would know how." Kelley writes that he has "good quarters have table stools knives forks spoons tins plates frying pans + a verry nice stove = there is four of us tents together they are all good boys." He invited some of his "particular friends to dine" with him on "cakes, pies + butter, apple butter+ turkey was second to none they had ever eaten." Circumstances in camp are quiet. The regiment has a new and popular colonel.

50/100     SOLD: $34.50

113. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Deserters

Charlestown, West Virginia: February 15, 1865
Kellley is still writing and publishing the regimental newspaper, The Guardian. He apologizes that he did not include a copy of it with his last letter to his family. "We have a deep snow here now have had verry cold weather but not much duty to do now although there is a great manny Guerillas prowling around the country but we have men detailed to do the Scouting which makes it verry easy on those that are lucky enough not to be one of those detailed." He continues, " There are 5 men to be Shot ar the Ferry on Friday next between the hours of 12 oclock + two they are deserted. They are coming down on the deserters of late. We all like our new Col. Splendid he is verry strict but a good man." Kelley has many correspondents; besides his sister in Buena Vista, Pennsylvania, he writes to his parents in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania and to a number of "pen pals" who are mostly female. One Belle A. Patterson (her name is underlined) is the "most interesting correspondent that I have ever had, writes the noblest letter I have ever read. The weight of her council to the Soldier is lasting + impressive."With envelope and stamp.

50/100     SOLD: $69.00

114. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Disintegrating Camp Life

Charles Town, West Virginia: December 29, 1864
Sergeant Kelley thanks his sister for another one of her "welcome and cherished letters" and hopes that the family had a happy Christmas. He continues that the camp was "rather quiet" except for "Some of the boys that was drunk some of them had quite a Spree. Rather a Sad occurrence happened in Camp & two of the boys in that camp, under the influence of liquor, got into a quarel, come to Strokes, when one of them drew a revolver + shot the other through the head. He lived about 3 hours. Montgomery Shot Bowen. Montgomery's sisterinlaw was staying at Charlestown under his charge, her husband is Capt of a camp in the 20th Pa cav. They are now at Winchester; Capt Montgomery was at one time Orderly Sargeant of Camp F 12th Pa cav his wife went down with me to the Ferry, on the cars, and yesterday She told me that She never undertook any thing in her Life but what She accomplished + that She flattered herself that there was nothing but She could accomplish, + that She was going to intercede for her brother in law, + have him cleared on the plea that he was drunk when he committed the rash act- I fear She has undertook Something that She will not get through with this time = I think he will hang. Bowen was a nice young man the day that he was killed was to have been his wedding day if he could have got home." To conclude this sad tale, Kelley adds a droll postscript: " So much for whiskey." Kelley still serves as postmaster of the regiment; soldiers' pay is six months behind because there is no money. He is thinking about the end of his service (seven more months), of poetry, and of girlsfriends. Kelley begs his sister to forgive his messy handwriting as "it is night + the tent is full laughing + talking."

100/200     SOLD: $46.00

115. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Furlough

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: October 9, 1864
D.O. Kelley's October 9, 1864 predates his brother Rush's death. In this correspondance to his family in Buena Vista, Pennsylvania, Kelley writes that he "had the fever again" and was confined to a boarding house. His friends, however, took care of him, and he seems to be in good spirits. "Almost forgot to tell you, " he writes, "am going to Wmsport on a visit. Capt. Irwin Trent Miller + I we expect to have a gay time. We will be gone three or four days…" Kelley must intend to see his "girlfriend" and is excited at the prospect as he asks his sister and brother-in-law to forgive his "foolishness."

50/100     SOLD: $34.50

116. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: In Appreciation of Gifts

Charlestown, West Virginia: January 27, 1865
Kelley's sister sent him a care package, and this letter is a long (8 page) acknowledgement of his gratitude. "My box," he writes, "came to hand this evening about ten minutes after I had eaten my Supper notwithstanding I opened my box + did justice to the pie + Sponge cakes there is two boys tents with me, both good boys we sat + eat pie + cake + imagined our Selves at home the turkey caused a great many remarks… they say that it is the nicest box that ever they seen." He relates a battlefield incident where Kelley, in essence, demonstrated uncommon bravery and attracted the attention of his captain. Kelley had wanted to go on furlough, but the replacement assigned to Kelley's postmaster duties failed. They wanted him to resume those responsibilities. The captain, however, told Kelley "that he wanted me for a different purpose do not know what he is going to do with me. Suppose Send me to the rifrafs do not think that even he will make a General out of me."

100/200     SOLD: $34.50

117. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: In the Shenandoah Valley

Martinsburg, West Virginia: November 27, 1864
Kelley apologizes to his sister for his negligence in writing. Camp life seems to be quiet; he has had the time to attend a party in the country and met a "nice little VA girl." He seems lonely, however, and asks his sister and her husband to visit him. He reminds them of how beautiful the Shenandoah Valley is, admonishing them to "make up your minds not to go back untill you see part of the State of VA…" Apparently, Kelley believes he will be going home soon and that his relatives will never see Virginia once he leaves. "We had verry cheering news from the army of the Cumberland. I think that we will will bring them down to their right sences + feelings before long."

50/100     SOLD: $34.50

118. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Life in Camp McReynolds

September 28, 1864:
At the beginning of this letter, Kelley appears to be in good spirits. Stationed outside of "Washington City" in Camp McReynolds, he writes his sister that he has plenty to eat and drink and writes out a sample "bill of fare then you will know about how we live." Kelley finally admits that while the food and quarters are fine, "I do not enjoy a Soldiers life verry mutch nor I do not think that ever I shall but as it is a duty that I owe to my country I shall do my duty so far as I can or am able to do…" Earlier in his tenure with the army, Kelley wrote of how splendid and first rate his military companions were. His attitude has changed: "I do not belong to a fighting regiment. The most of them are perfic cowards officers + all the rest of the reg except but three companies it is the same reg that skedaddled from Manasses Junction about 3 weeks ago there was two men of them that never stoped untill they landed in pennsylvania. They was scattered all over the country they look out for number one.." He tells his sister that he has sent $15.00 to her in a previous letter and that if she cannot use it she should send it to the folks at home. Their mother, Christina, lives in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. Kelley also requests some postage stamps; apparently, any soldier venturing into town even to purchase stamps ran the risk of being arrested by the "provo guard." This may have been a way to stop the stream of deserters.

50/100     SOLD: $23.00

119. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Martinsburg

October 1, 1863
Kelley's regiment has moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia (still referred to as Virginia); he thinks it is "a fine place for Soldiers I would rather be here than any place that I have been since I have been in the Service." He has witnessed a great deal of troop movement in the last several days as the 11th and 12th Corps passed through on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to battles in Tennessee as well as a prisoner exchange. Just as Kelley remarks that there is not much fighting in Martinsburg and that he is signing off, Kelley writes:"bots & saddles has blowed Must go Yours in haste…" and, then, as postscript: "The rebels are reported to be coming in force…the report came in yesterday that the rebs was advancing in force there was about 100 of us went out 10 or 12 miles to see what was up there was about 400 within 6 miles of here…"

50/100     SOLD: $46.00

120. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Nearing the End

Winchester, West Virginia: April 9, 1865
Kellley is busy with soldiering now- more so than he has been for most of the war. He feels, though, that the war is drawing to a close. He writes: "We have been moving from one place to another about every day, am well with the exeption of a sty over my eye which feels rather sore at the present time." Later in the letter, he comments that he thinks "it is over. We had marching order to (go to ) Lynchburg a day or two ago but the order has been countermanded do not think we will ever leave the Valley until we are discharged but cannot tell how soon that will be. Winchester was illuminated last night. There has been a great manny Rebs came in + gave themselves (up) in the last day or two. Our army has had a big time here the last day or two/ a person would think that they had gone crazy." With envelope.

50/100     SOLD: $57.50