357.
Civil War Letter. Martinsburg, VA. October 1863.
Philosophies on Death

Three page letter from which the following has been excerpted: "There was a lieutenant & we came in contact & exchanged a couple of shots at each other with our pistols when he began to think of number one & started for the mountain. I brought my carbine to bear upon the horse & fired. The horse fell to his knees. Mr. Lieutenant naturally came to the conclusion that the next shot was intended for him & came running back with his hands up hollering I'll surrender I'll surrender.
When we are at home in peace & quietness it frequently falls our lot to gaze on the dead body of some one whose soul have taken its flight. Perhaps a friend or a stranger but let it chance to be either there is no one but must give a moment for consideration & perhaps drop a tear but in this cruel war how different- every one trying to be first to strike a death stroke to some poor gray back & then smile at him weltering in his blood."

Martinsburg, VA October 1863

200/300     SOLD: $115.00

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