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CIVIL WAR CORRESPONDENCE OF J. B. COPPENHAVER OF THE 93RD PENNSYLVANIA

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
CIVIL WAR CORRESPONDENCE OF J. B. COPPENHAVER OF THE 93RD PENNSYLVANIA
A excellent archive of material including 37 A.Ls.S and a diary written and kept by J. B. Coppenhaver of the 93rd Pennsylvania dating between Feb. 23,1862 and Feb. 3, 1865. The 93rd Pennsylvania took part in the Peninsular Campaign seeing action at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill. They were mercifully held in reserve at Antietam, but saw action at Gettysburg. The regiment also served in the Shendoah Valley fighting at the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. During his service with the 93rd our correspondent was wounded at Fair Oaks and again at the Wilderness. Written primarily to his mother and other family members, Coppenhaver accomplishes the majority of the letters in ink with several in pencil. In part: "[Washington, March 3, 1862] …The brave ninety third is now in the field ready and willing there [sic] rifles weld ]sic] against all traitors and treacherous foes whilst onward we march to deal the death blows. With colonel Johnston at our head giving the command we will march defiantly down into dixie land and there show them what our relgium [sic] rifles will do when handtled [sic] by pennsylvanians who always prove true… ["Near Richmond" June 3] …I think you have he[a]rd of the great battle, we had on Satturday [sic] the 31 May [Seven Pines] I was in the whole time and got safe out I stra[i[ned myself in the leg a little do doubt you will see my name on the wound list… I am not in the hospital… [July 4] …our Army moved City Point they fought the last 6 days hard our regt. was in a small fight but I was not along out we are now about 15 miles from richmond on the James river the river so full of our gun boats to protict [sic] us, yesterday the rebels throwed [sic] a shell in our camp a bout 50 yds from us, but we are acquainted to it that we don't mind it any more, on the field were we laid yesterday there were about 50 thousand men and we got more than 50 thousand fresh troop[s] again. I don't no [sic[ what the object was of coming over hear [sic] but I think McClellan nows [sic] what he is doing… at 5 P.M. the guns were fired in honor of the forth [of] July… [Yorktown, Aug. 27] Our camp is near the place where Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington … on the South bank of york River… [near Frederickbsurg, Dec. 28] …I heard that we have Marching Orders again where to we move I dont no… we can hear Canonading [sic] again to day in front… [Williamsport, Oct. 28] ….I am promoted to Serge[a]nt in our company… [Maryland, July 8 1863] …our regt was in the fight [Gettysburg], but did not get a man killed 10 or 11 wounded only. The rebels got enough this time, and they will get it better before they get out of Md. we had awful rain these few days, our regt is … g[u]arding Artillery the road is awful bad, the teams can hardly get through … we are now near the old Antietam battle ground… July 9… God gave us one of the greatest victories of the war, I think you saw it in the paper, the rebels laws [sic, loss] as between 45 and 50 thousand men, the battle was fought at Gettysburg, the regt was in the fight on the 2… Vicksburg… our news are [sic, is] good … [Halltown, Va., Feb. 23, 1864] …Last night we got marching Orders we got 2 days ration all the Cavalry went out in the front I heard that the rebs want to gross [sic, cross] the Shanando [sic] river and come in this valley… ["In Hospital at Fredericksburg Va", May 24 1864] …to day I feel very well my wounds are get[t]ing along well… I heard Wm. Boeshar had One of his Arms taken off they are moveing [sic]… the wounded as fast as they can to Washington… [Alexandria, Va., May 15, 1864] …I was wounded in both legs, at the knees but it was only [a] flesh wound do not trouble yourself about it… [Philadelphia, July 12, 1864] …I think there must have been a great excite[ment] up there again, but you need not be alarmed that the rebs are coming down there they are advancing on Baltimore in force they send all the troops and the men out of the Hosp[i]t[al]s that were fit to go on to Baltimore the trains are running every hour but we will soon of the old 6th corps or some other that will arrived [sic] at Baltimore you need not be alarmed that they will get up there… More fine content. The letters bear the expected folds with some marginal wear and light soiling, very good condition overall. The correspondence is accompanied by a journal/diary kept by Coppenhaver late in the war which includes three muster rolls for Company C of the 93rd (March, April & May 1864) as well as diary entries (kept in pencil) chronicling his recovery from his knee wounds received at the Wilderness (July 3 to Oct 14, 1864). Diary bears the expected wear to the leather covers, some pages loose, else very good.