CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE LETTERS WRITTEN BY TWO SISTERS, SENT BETWEEN LINES FROM STAUNTON, VA. TO PENNSYLVANIA & ILLINOIS

$95.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: L14456

First Letter: From Addie Garber to Miss Martha Taylor. Dated August 25, 1862. 3pp. in ink, on lined paper, measuring 10” x 7.75”. With cover, US 3 Cent stamp, post-dated “Madison/ Sep 18/ 1862”. Cover address: Miss Martha Taylor / Pass of Judge Taylor / _____ / PA”. Exhibits fold marks, & inward one inch tear on right margin. Else VG, & entirely legible.

Letter text:

“Dear Cousin Martha…..We received a letter from Major Garber through the kindness of Col. Ashby and as I have never tried but once since I received your letter last spring to send one to you, I thought I would try this way. I have no small paper so I’ll have to use this. There is plenty I have to tell you to fill this however.

I might as well commence with news at once. It has been almost a year since you heard from us. Really I do not know where to commence. Did I tell you of cousins Tom Harman’s death? He died of typhoid fever. Since then Cousin Fannie has moved in town to the house where Mr. McCoy used to live. Aunt Nancy boards with her. Ned came home once or twice during the winter sick. Asher & Mike had short furloughs once or twice. Ned was in the mountains all winter in the battles there. Asher & Mike were nearly all winter in eastern Virginia then to Richmond. Then they were brought to the valley to join our Stonewall. & then carried back to Richmond. Joined in all the battles. Ned was there too. All were at Gordonsville or near there. Ned has been elected Captain. Asher 1st Lieutenant & Mike is 3rd. You know I supposed you know that Ned is in the Infantry service. Ash & Mike artillery. Tommie has joined the Cavalry. Ashby’s which has Gen. Robinson’s at its head [Robinson had replaced Gen. Turner Ashby, K PATTERN 1853 BRITISH BUFF BAYONET FROG IA spring 1862]. Cousin Asher Harmon is a col. In the cavalry. Cousin Hill is not in the service. He is one of Gen. Edward Johnson’ staff. And he has not recovered from his wound yet. He stayed at Sisters three months. Ned & cousin Sal Michie were married in June. Cousin Jennie lives in town. Mr. Robertson Margus brother-in-law that was taken prisoner has been exchanged. Sister Lizzie lost four children in the spring of scarlet fever. Sue Webb Hancock & Little Mary. Cousin Jennie lost little Lillie of the same disease. Cousin Tom Michie received 6 or 7 wounds at Richmond and there died of pneumonia.

I want you to see how much I care for you. I heard that there were some Yankees at our soldiers hospital one day when we were over there with nice things for the soldiers went up to see them and I asked one if would tell me where he came from.

He came from he replied Penn but he was from Susquehana county. So I asked no more. I did feel like talking any more to them after my first failure. I though perhaps Rash John Bill, George Ganilson or some other of your brave friends might have been here. I think it probable you will never receive this letter. Col. Ashby will if possible I expect send it over to your army as soon as convenient, that I am confident of but if it ever gets through your lines is what I’m uncertain about.

I hope all of my relatives are well. And please do you write soon. Are any of the kin in the army? Mike Garber is with his father in the 2 NC. Inquire and try your best to hear something about Uncle Christy. Mrs. Opie is dead. Good bye let me hear from you.

 

I am your

Cousin Addie

 

Pa did not want Tommie to join the army but he could not keep him out. He though sixteen to young for any boy to go into service, when he is not needed especially. Tom was so anxious he had to consent. Northern papers we look at McDowell told of a Col. Garber being killed at Shiloh. We thought it might have been him.”

Accompanied by two page letter from Fanny Garber, addressed to Cousin “Martha A.Taylor / care of John H. Miller / Ottawa / Le Salle Co., Illinois.” 2pp. in ink, measuring 7.75 X 5.25”. Yellow cover postdated “Huntingdon/ PA/ 23/ NOV”. Letter faded and yellowing, but entirely legible.

Letter Text:

“Enclosed, Miss Taylor, I send my sister Addie’s letter which I received last night. I cannot tell whether you have already seen it or not, but take it for granted you have not. You can have no idea how rejoiced I was to hear from my dear relatives in dear old Staunton. Tho’ I am not mentioned even, & the rest of us are spoken of lightly, my heart yearned toward them with increasing love and remembrance. If you know anything more of them than Addie has told of, will you be so kind as to let me hear from you? Or will it be too much trouble? I had written a long letter to you, thinking you might have an opportunity of sending it to Virginia then thought it useless.

But if you have an opportunity will you write to them mention my great desire to know of them. I hope it will be in my power to render you assistance in my power, during our sojourn in the world below.

Perhaps you do not know I am Addie’s sister, with my uncle Mike whom Addie thot was killed at Shiloh. That was a Col. Gerber of this place. Truly Fanny Garber.”

 

In this correspondence, Miss Martha Taylor was the connective link between the two Garber sisters separated by war--Addie in Virginia and Fanny in Virginia.

Five Confederate soldiers were mentioned in Addie’s Garber’s letter - three Garber brothers, and two Harman cousins. Their services summarize as follows:

 

[1] Asher Waterman Garber, with the Staunton Light Artillery throughout the war, promoted from Lieutenant to Captain to battalion command, wounded three times, the last at Sailor’s Creek, 4/6/1865.

[2] Michael C. Garber, with the Staunton Light Artillery, promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, surrendered 4/9/1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, VA. [3] Thomas M. Garber, enlisted as private, and served in Co. “I”, 12th VA Cavalry.

[4] Asher Waterman Harmon, served with the 5th Virginia Infantry, with promotions from captain to major, transferring to the 12th VA Cavalry, with promotion to colonel, 6/21/1862. Wounded at Brandy Station, 2/15/1863, captured at Harper’s Ferry, 7/14/1863. Paroled 4/30/1865.

[5] William Henry Harman, commissioned into staff and field, 5th Virginia, dropped from the rolls, commissioned in 1864 as aide de camp to General Edward Johnson. Killed at Gallaghers Mill, VA, 3/2/1865. Grand Master of Masons in VA. at the time of death.

Superb pair of letters from two sisters separated by war, with mention of numerous soldier relatives. Invites further research. Accompanied service documentation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!

Inquire About CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE LETTERS WRITTEN BY TWO SISTERS, SENT BETWEEN LINES FROM STAUNTON, VA. TO PENNSYLVANIA & ILLINOIS

For inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

featured item

RARE IDENTIFIED 65th NY SERGEANT’S JACKET, WITH MANSCRIPT MATERIAL: 1st U.S. CHASSEURS

This is an extremely rare, early-war uniform jacket, with related material, belonging to a sergeant of the 65th New York, who enlisted at the beginning of the war as the regiment’s commissary sergeant, and gained a lieutenant’s commission in a… (1179-233). Learn More »

Upcoming Events

29
Mar

April 13-14: Spring Gettysburg Military Antiques Show Learn More »

Instagram