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"...betting on how many men our army will lose in the first fight...."

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:70.00 USD Estimated At:140.00 - 180.00 USD
 ...betting on how many men our army will lose in the first fight....
Superior letter of Union officer "Robert," "Head Quarters 69th P(enna.) V(ols.), near Stevensburg, Pa.," Apr. 8, 1864, 7 1/2 x 9 3/4, 2 1/2 pp. The 69th - known as "'Paddy' Owens' Regulars" and "The Forgotten Irish" - fought gallantly at Gettysburg, losing all of its field officers by July 3. Despite homage in Ireland, the unit remained underappreciated in America for some 140 years - until 1999, when it received its home town's highest honor, the Philadelphia Medal of Honor. To his brother. "I have just received your letter. And it is just like sitting in a court room awaiting for a Jury to return a verdict upon you. You cannot expect any kind of an answer for there is nothing but drills going on & we are just awaiting a verdict of Meade & Grant to move. It is all that we talk about, think about & dream about, each one of us saying to the other, I wonder whose wind is to be cut this Summer, & then we get to surmising where we will move...& betting on how many men our army will lose in the first fight...Oh what a short distance $100 goes in this army. A person would scarcely believe it but such is the fact. I only hope that you may be able to quit square with them. God damd blood suckers...If they ever happen to fall across my path I will give them to understand that I have shot better Rebels than what they are...You are killing yourself by it. Take heart & face the drill. By God if you were in the Army I almost think that you would worry yourself to death at the approaching fight, for it seems as if all of us has made up our minds to die, but we are going to live to the last minute and if we can we will take a good breakfast of raw pork hardback...Then farewell to the service of Uncle Sam. I will be one of the tongue defenders of the Union around 6th & Chestnut St. 'Philadelphia]. I would have left the Army this week, only by my staying in it keeps you exempt from the draft. I am getting more & more disgusted with the red tape every day, for the Government thinks a volunteer officer good enough to stand up & be shot at, but they are nowhere when compared to a regular Army officer...P.S.: Gen. Grant has ordered a Review 5 times now of our Corps & each time it has come on a heavy rain & he has been disappointed. All the superstitious persons in the Corps look upon it as a bad omen for the success of his career while with the Army of the Potomac." Original folds, very light handling evidence, else about very fine. Scrutiny of the 69th's roster narrows the writer down to one of four Roberts; summary accompanies.