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85th NY Infantry ALS 1861

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:NA
85th NY Infantry ALS 1861
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Letter from Edgar W. Irish of the 85th New York Infantry, Company C. Accompanied by cover. Datelined Elmira, New York, 10 October 1861, three days after Irish mustered into service. Excerpt: ''…My Dear Cousin Lottie…I came here direct from there and enlisted in Capt. Wellman's Co., Col. Davis's regiment…Our time is nearly all occupied in drill and camp duties…Our Company is mostly composed of intelligent seventh day baptists from Geneva, Friendship, Alfred and Independence…Have not heard from home since I came from there a week ago last Tuesday. I guess you may as well take care of that likeness and the cake you spoke of til some other time - til the war is over for instance which I confidently believe will be the case within a year at the fartherest. I think that if you should go to the seat of war you would find it quite as rough and perilous as you could endure. I hope you will have no occasion to go. I wish I had not too for I dread it…Pray for me Lottie that I may not falter in my duty to God or man…'' The 85th New York was engaged at Yorktown, Williamsburg and Fair Oaks. In April 1864 nearly the entire 85th New York Infantry was taken prisoner at Plymouth; 222 of the men later died in southern prisons. Irish mustered into Company C on 7 October 1861 and mustered out on 20 June 1865. Letter measures 5'' x 8'' and runs 2.75pp. Fine condition.