[Civil War - James H. Closson and the 91 st Pennsylvania Vol. I... Lot 18

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

LOT 18Seller's Estimate: USD 2,000 - 3,00018. [Civil War - James H. Closson and the 91 st Pennsylvania Vol. Inf. Regt.] An important and moving collection of (16) letters from James H. Closson, Captain of Company H of the 91 st Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. The regiment was raised near Philadelphia during the fall of 1861 and mustered into Federal service on 4 December of that year. Edgar M. Gregory was elected colonel of the regiment. In January 1862 the 91 st was ordered to Washington, D.C. serving in garrison duties until August, when it was sent to the Army of the Potomac. The letters are written mostly to his mother, but also his wife, Josephine, before she died from consumption of the lungs. Closson writes rich, and oftentimes horrifying, anecdotal descriptions of key battles in the war, including Antietam, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor . Also included is a handwritten General Order N. 12, Head Quarters 91 st Regt., Camp Stanton, Bladensbury Road, 27 January 1862, signed by Colonel E.M. Gregory, as well a 1-page "List of Casualties in Co. H., 91 st Reg't PVI", naming the soldiers wounded and killed from 5 May through 18 June 1864. Also present is Closson's Commonwealth of Pennsylvania document appointing him as Captain.Highlights include:2 June 1862, Alexandria, Va. The news has just came that McClellan has taken Richmond after a tremendous fight, and that he has taken 20,000 prisoners, if that is true, the rebellion is nearly crushed out. Bouregard [sic] after spending months in fortifying Corrinth [sic] evacuated that stronghold, and allowed the Union forces to enter without striking a blow...They [the rebels] are good at lying and bragging but they have not got the bottom that northern troops have...7 October 1862, Camp near Sharpsburg, Md. I suppose you have heard all about the great battle of Antietam, but no discription [sic] I have seen in the papers comes up to the reality of the scene, it was undoubtedly the hardest fought battle of the war. The traitors were commanded by Lee, Jackson, Longstreet...they fought with desperation, but could not withstand the terrible earnestness of our brave boys, who drove them from every point of the field, capturing several batteries of artillery, several thousand prisoners, and covering the ground with the dead...I saw one corn field of about 10 acres that had 1500 dead rebels lying in it...and I saw a gully about 3 ft. deep...filled with them in some places 4 deep, and nearly every man shot in the head, showing the accuracy of our men's aim...1 July 1863 [Gettysburg, Pa.] ...arrived at Hanover at 2 o'clock halted until 6 when we again started in the direction of Gettysburg, halted 5 miles from Gettysburg...July 2 marched this morning at 4 formed line of battle at 7. We then moved into a wood and remained under cover until 5 o'clock when we were ordered to the front and were soon engaged. We took a position on a hill called Round Top and were ordered to hold it at all hazards, we were supporting Battery D 5 th regular artillery. Remained on Round Top until 5 o'clock PM on the 5 July when our casualties were one man wounded...13 May 1864, Battle field near Spotsylvania Court House, Va. Since we crossed the Rapidan we have been fighting for ten days with Lee's army, he is badly beaten now but I think we will destroy him and his army in a few days more. The fighting has been terrible, and the losses enormous on both sides but the rebel loss is by far the heaviest. We have captured 10,000 prisoners. I was captured in the first days fight, and was struck with a spent ball but did not hurt me more than a bruise. I was taken from the rebs by the 2 nd U.S. Infantry and was with my regt. in less than two hours after they took me...1 June 1864, Battle Field South Side the Pamunkey River 10 miles from Richmond, Va. Our Brigade has been in every battle and we have whipped Lee in every fight, the rebs made four charges to break through our lines but were handsomely repulsed each time day before yesterday. Our loss has been ve... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.