Lot of 5 Civil War era Letters, GILLESPIE Family, Bladen County, North Carolina
Bladen County, North Carolina: 1858. Lot of 5 hand-written letters connected to the GILLESPIE Family, Plantation owners in antebellum Bladen County, North Carolina. Each framed individually. All are antebellum and Civil War era (1858-1864).
Letter, dated January 6, 1862, from "Franky" Gillespie to his mother, in which he refers to his company as having "mumps". He writes, "I wish the war would come to an end... don't think I will volunteer next year." Franky would be KIA a few months later at Zeke's Island near Fort Fisher.
Letter, dated July 30, 1864 at start and August 2, 1864 at close, written to home from war. References the lack of mail, paper, and closes with "if [this letter] ever finds you at all".
Letter, dated November, 1858 from David Franklin Gillespie (Gadsden, AL) to his mother. Letter has "Saving Private Ryan" significance, as it mentions "Sallie", the McDaniels (into whose family Sallie later married) and "Richard". As mentioned in Cumberland Co.'s "civil war dead", historical records logged four years later, all three would be dead. Richard on 8/27, serving in NC 18th Regular Troops. "Frank" shortly thereafter serving in K Co., and Sallie on 9/27, in Georgia of unnamed causes.
Joint Letter, dated September 9, 1862 from Sallie Gillespie to her mother (first part) and the Rev. Peter Wm. McDaniel (2nd part), sent from Pleasant Valley [Maryland]. Sallie's portion is mainly solace to her mother regarding her brother [Richard]. Baxter Gillespie's death at Gordonsville, VA on August 27, 1862 [he died at 21 in service of Company I, 18th Regt, NC Troops]. Peter's portion eulogizes Baxter for his kind heart and words, from which "even the negroes found a message of kind regard." He notes Baxter "dies in a good cause in the defense of his mother and sister from want, oppression, and ruinous degradation", and "it is sweet to die for one's country". He then wonders "how many afflicted families are daily sending their cries and prayers to heaven against the ungodly Yankee Nation." The last third of the second page is a must-read, recounting the "disaster" befolding the Yanks in various states and battles at the hands of McDowell, Banks, Burnside, Shields, McLelland, etc." "They have been dreadfully cut to pieces". He closes noting that the Rebs are "doubtlessly liberating Maryland [their locale] & thundering at the gates of Washington itself." Item #101726
Price: $1,250.00