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Lot #348
Civil War: Confederate Soldier's Letter on the Siege of Petersburg

A Confederate soldier writes while besieged at Petersburg: "I don't know how long it may be my call to receive a wound or killed yet"

Estimate: $100+

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Server Time: 4/11/2026 07:46:18 PM EDT
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Description

A Confederate soldier writes while besieged at Petersburg: "I don't know how long it may be my call to receive a wound or killed yet"

Civil War-dated ALS signed “E. W. Jones, 59th Ala. Regt.,” one page both sides, 8 x 13, August 17, 1864. Handwritten letter from Petersburg, Virginia, while under siege. In part: "The enemy is still sieging this place & how much longer they intend sieging Petersburg I am not able to say. I sometimes think they are going to put up winter quarters in front of Petersburg. I hope they will not. I am getting mighty tired of this place. I have been in the ditches for the last two months & how much longer we will have to stay here, I am not able to say. Everything is quiet in our front except the usual amount of Sharp-Shooting & Mortar Shelling which takes place during the day. I have this far been very fortunate. I have not got a fight yet, though I don't know how long it may be my call to receive a wound or killed yet." In fair condition, with split intersecting folds, heavy soiling and staining affecting legibility of portions of the text, and fading to portions of the ink.

The Collection of Dr. Joseph Matheu.

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