This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/9/2021
Civil War letter sent by Union private John Kelt to his father datelined Falls Church V.A. July 6th 1861. In it he recounts that he was called upon to go on a scouting party and "...searched the house of the Captain of the Southern army..." where he recovers a paper he will send his father that he believes is "worth saving for its age". He further recounts "...It is altogether probable that we shall not have a chance to fight a regular battle before our time is out. I have to work very hard as two of the Corporals in our company are on the sick list... I have not slept more than 5 hours in the last 4 days and have been walking most of the time... I shall not know how to lay in a bed when I get home... I can drop down on the ground anywhere and go to sleep in a minute… I have not slept in a bed since I left N. Haven... we took two prisoners the other night from the South Carolina regiment... they were armed with shotguns loaded about half full of buckshot... they told us that they came from Mass. but were forced into the service..." The last page details General Winfield Scott's battle plan to overtake confederate troops at Manassas Junction, later known as the First Battle of Bull Run and a Union defeat. It reads, "General Scot (sic) has set a trap to catch all of the troops at Manassas Junction... it is in this way the city of Alexandria is the bait... it is left open on one side with the other three crowded with soldiers in this way… if they march on the city our regiments will close in on the them and have them hemmed in on all sides…" which includes a hand drawn map.
Condition:
Very good, wear commensurate with age