121. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: On The Move

Cherry Run, West Virginia: June 12, 1864
Kelley is writing to his sister and brother-in-law on a "pleasant June Morn" after receiving the news of the death of "little Jhohny," who does not appear to be a relative. "He was a dear little boy to me," writes Kelley continuing in the descriptive language of death popular at the time. "We are still at Cherry Run, " Kelley relates, "cannot tell how long we may remain here perhaps not long as the reg is about all mounted or near So we have about 1000 horses in the reg now there is short 200 men yet that are not mounted yet I presume that will have horse enough in a day or two.." Kelley thinks that, perhaps, they will stay at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to protect it after the recent Confederate Raid. In an interesting turn, Kelley declines to give his family any war news stating that they probably can read it all in the newspaper anyway. This may be an indication of how war-weary this soldier has become.

50/100     SOLD: $34.50

122. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: On the Way Home

Williamsport, Maryland: June 7, 1865
Kelley writes a hurried letter to his brother-in-law John Morton Daggette. He is coming home. He asks Daggette to please pay the COD charges on his box of possessions promising to pay him when he gets home. Kelley hopes that the box will be delivered to Buena Vista, but if that is not possible it will, apparently, be delivered to the nearest express office. Kelley is very excited about returning to his parents' home in Elizabeth. Because it is hot, however, he adds that it will take him longer to get home. "I mean," Kelley writes," to stop at Bedford Springs a day or two on my Road." In a letter written early in his war experience, Kelley had visited at least one of the hot springs of Virginia and had described the fine time he had there. With envelope and stamp.

50/100     SOLD: $40.25

123. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Raid On Railroad

Cherry Run, West Virginia: May 9, 1864
Kelley had a short furlough during which he visited his sister and her family in Buena Vista, Pennsylvania (just south of Pittsburgh) and on the way back to camp stopped off in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and in Williamsport, Maryland. He has made many close friends in Williamsport. When he returns to camp, he has light duty but tells of a recent Confederate raid:" We have very encouraging news for the army of the Potomac at the present time do not know how long it may hold out but hope the conflict may soon be over think we have every reason to think so. the rebbles mad a raid on the Balt. + Ohio R.R. They distroyed considerable of property they captured two trains ...… they made an attempt to burn the trains but failed. Their was about eighty thousand dollars in the express car but they failed to get it…" A great deal of effort was expended by Union troops guarding and rebuilding this rail road line for the duration of the war. By all accounts, it was very boring duty.

50/100     SOLD: $172.50

124. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Re-Enlistment

Williamsport, Maryland: January 8, 1864
Kelley has been in the army for nearly two years. As so many observers expected the war to be over shortly, Kelley may be starting to get weary of the soldier's life. In this letter, he writes: "I have been traveling around not two days in one place we have been in Maryland for about 4 weeks on detective Service." While he most of his fellow soldiers and commanders are re-enlisting, Kelley has "not concluded to reenlist yet. I do not know how it will be but I think that it is a little doubtful whether I do or not." Once again as in other times of conflict, Kelley turns to prayer. At the end of the letter, he conveys that he has been ordered back to West Virginia because his captain cannot spare his "best men." Quarter section of last page torn away, but full text is intact. With envelope, postmark and stamp.

50/100     SOLD: $69.00

125. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Reflections

Cherry Run, West Virginia: June 24, 1864
Kelley acknowledges the receipt of a letter from his sister which bears the scribble of his niece, Emazonia. "Never did I receive a line that gave me more pleasure, than did that little scroll, it caused me to meditate and reflect on the past present and future even for hours." He thinks of departed friends and meeting them again to be parted no more in Heaven. Of the war, he writes: "There was about 8000 men started out from Martinsburg this morning for General Hunter in charge of Gen Stahl they took a train of waggons with provisions for Hunters army there was 300 to 400 waggons. That is a heavy guard for a few waggons, the report was that we was going with them but we had not to go, I would like to take a trip up the valley. We have a pleasant time here but I do not like to stay so long in one place." Kelley divulges a burgeoning romantic relationship in Williamsport but does not know if it will develop into anything more; as a postscript, he tells his brother-in-law that he will write to him and "give him a history of my life Since I left home but that he must not show it to my cousins." One can only imagine what secret amorous adventures Kelley might divulge.

100/200     SOLD: $46.00

126. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Response to Niece

January 16, 1865: Charles Town, West Virginia
D.O. Kelley's niece apparently responded to his letter. He had vowed not to write her again until she had. Kelley tells her that he visited friends in Williamsport; that he has a new commanding officer; and that the winter has been the coldest in ten years. He was glad that she received the copy of the regimental newspaper that he edited and sent. "Everything is quiet in the Valley at the present time the Rebs does not trouble us any at all at the present times." With envelope, partial stamp.

50/100     SOLD: $34.50

127. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: Sergeant Kelley the Editor

Charles Town, West Virginia: February 27, 1864
D.O. Kelley is seriously thinking of leaving the Army by Spring of 1864. The letter details terms of enlistment and the original agreement (including tenure) under which many enlisted. His thoughts have turned to the poetry his sister sends, to books recommended by the Chaplain of the regiment. Kelley also informs his sister that the regimental newspaper, "The Guardian," is "played out. From the fact that they have no one to Edit it as the editor has been ordered to his comp for the present." Also of note is the fact that this is the first letter in this collection where Kelley signs off as "Sergeant."

50/100     SOLD: $34.50

128. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War Letter: To Niece

Charles Town, West Virginia: December 3, 1864
Kelley writes to his "little niece" promising to send a copy of the regimental newspaper of which he is now editor. He writes of the war: "The rebs call round to See us occasionally they attacked our pickets the other night had a hard fight 2 of our men was killed and two wounded. They had tow killed + 4 or 5 wounded. The regt. was nearly all out on a Scout at the time they was over in London County. Sherading(?) Cavalry went over there to burn property in that valley. They say that the whole county was afire for 30 or 40 miles. They burnt all the grain + every mile + every barn in London Valley. Col Pierce the Col of our regt gave the citizens about Charles Town their orders yesterday he told them that if our pickets was disturbed again that he would burn every house in Charles Town he has an order now to burn it but will not at the present time." Kelley continues to write to the young girl about a hanging: "There was a man hung at the Ferry yesterday he had deserted from our army + joined the rebs + they caught him. He said that he had cut the throats of three of our men. I seen them taking him out to hang him he was a splendid looking man." It is interesting to note that Kelley's most graphic letters about the war were written to his niece and not to his sister or brother-in-law.

50/100     SOLD: $23.00

129. Kelley, D.O.
Civil War: Virginia Campaigns

March 23, 1863
Kelley's regiment has moved to Winchester, West Virginia where the intent is "to drive the rebbles from virginia." He comments about the health of his regiment: "The health of our reg. is good in comparison to the number of the men that we have and the time that the men has had through through this winter through the wet and cold; this is about as sickly a time as there is in the year among the Soldiers as the hardships that they have to endure through the winter is apt to bring on sickness." They are busy drilling and preparing for the Spring campaigns. Stationed in the Shenandoah Valley, Kelley is overwhelmed by its beauty and saddened by the destruction caused to it by the war: "The Shenandoah Valley is as beautiful a valley as there is in the world; it is a pity to see property destroyed as it is in this valley but such is the ravages of war. There is miles that you cannot see a fence." He ends his letter talking about his "beautiful horse as nice as there is in camp." With envelope (no stamp) bearing picture of Colonel L.B. Pierce of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

50/100     SOLD: $270.25

130. Kelley, D.O.
Four Page Highly Detailed Civil War Letter

Bolivar Heights, West Virginia: November 20, 1864
D.O. Kelley is tired of the war. Up to this point, his letters have been remarkable for their lack of negativity. Here, Kelley unequivocally states "…I do not like this place...…the duty is very heavy at the present time about the one half of the regt. Is out at Charlestown about 8 miles from here they are guarding the hands that is at work on the railroad from this place to Winchester our men are rebuilding that road again. The cars run about halfway from here to Winchester." The regiment experiences a demoralizing defeat: "…We had 6 men + 14 horses captured on picket the other night there was 16 men on the post all out of Comp F; there was about 50 of old Mosbey's men charged the post + our own boys made a stand dismounted but the Rebs was too heavy for them + they had to let their horse go glad to get away themselves." In exchange for not scouting or picketing, Kelley becomes the postmaster for the regiment. In addition, Kelley is instrumental in resurrecting the regimental newspaper, "The Guardian." Besides talk of the horses, the publication of the newspaper seems to be the only happy topic in this correspondence. With envelope, stamp and postmark.

100/200     SOLD: $270.25