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

Condition: Very Good