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THE LAST LETTER OF A UNION SOLDIER LOST ON THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
THE LAST LETTER OF A UNION SOLDIER LOST ON THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, with its original stamped envelope endorsed by Lt. Charles Hand (POW 1862), 4pp. 8vo., written by Alfred N. Lukens, Co. H, 118th Penn. Vols. ("Corn Exchange Reg."), "Camp near Aldie, Va., June 25, 1863" to his parents being his last letter home before he would die near Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. In part: "…we left Morrisville June 13th. We have been dodging about a good deal over this part of Virginia …we don't know down here whether Lee has swallowed you all up or whether you have swallowed him. Yesterday we moved our camp about 300 yards further to the right. Our Brigade stretching out more. It looks as if we intend staying here a little while 3 or 4 weeks probably although we may not be here that many hours. Military movements are very uncertain…on Sunday morning…orders were received to be ready to move in 2 hours. The whole 1st Division receiving the same order and moving…beyond Middleburg…driving the Rebs before them some 4 or 5 miles supporting cavalry & artillery. The 3rd Brigade became engaged…and lost several officers & men killed, wounded & missing. 3 of us went into Aldie…to get supper…it's a right smart little place. Some nice little houses…we succeeded in finding a house where we could get our supper…it was formerly an Inn and a porch ran along the front of the house. We sat on the porch while supper was getting ready & soldiers went dashing back & forth. Every cavalry man who went by had something over his saddle...in the shape of a sheep or a pig with his throat cut…soon was told supper was ready…the drink we had I didn't know whether it was tea or coffee had neither sugar & milk in it, no butter was on the table. We had a kind of hash on the table hardly eatable however…was charged 50 cents for it…I would have enjoyed my supper in camp as much as…in Aldie, but it was aching to get a seat at a table…the 5th Corps are all in thuds neighborhood…Genl. Hooker has established his head quarters at Fairfax C. H…the greatest part of the Army of the Potomac is laying around there. The Rebs are about 6 miles from us. A large force of cavalry lie between them & us. Yesterday...heavy skirmishing …some of us thought we would be getting somewhere shortly but we are still hear…In regard to any movements we are in the dark don't know as much as the people in the North who read the newspapers…". Most certainly Lukens is one of those unfortunate few who fell in the forced marches to Gettysburg. The distance was over 75 miles and the weather was hot and humid. His life was most likely claimed by sunstroke. Very good.

Estimate: $200 - 300.

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