AUGUST 1864 SOLDIER LETTER & COVER - PRIVATE JACOB R. STEINMETZ, CO. “C” & “L,” 15TH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, TO SUPPOSED SWEETHEART JULIA ST. CLAIR

$165.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 945-527

Dated “Cedar Grove, Jan. 1864.” Addressed to Julia St. Clair. 4 pp. in pencil on lined paper, 5” x 8. Exhibits fold-marks & a couple of tiny spots. Else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve, accompanied by documentation.

Jacob R. Steinmetz enlisted as a private into C.”C”, 15th PA Cavalry, 8/22/1862, and was mustered out, 6/21/1865.  His unit saw service in the Western theater, and participated in the Battles  of Stones River. Missionary Ridge and Gen. Stoneman’s huge cavalry raid near the end of the war.

Julia St. Clair (1842-1864) was a great-granddaughter of Revolutionary War general Arthur St. Clair. It seems also certain that Jacob Steinmetz was romantically linked with Julia, but in 1864 or 65, she died. Jacob’s last letters to her are ones in which he askes whey she hasn’t written to him.

Text summary: In this letter Steinmetz says that he hasn’t heard from her and was writing to see if she received his last letter. He says he has traveled through all kinds of weather & roads and up mountain that were almost perpendicular. He has w has seen Rebels by the thousands, and that he was lost behind enemy lines for 36 hours, suffered near starvation. He says that he would like to see civilization again as he fears if he might become a barbarian or savage. He mentions that he has seen scores of Beauty since entering the Tallahatchie Valley. asks what he has done that she refuses to answer his letter. He askes if it contained anything offensive, or, perhaps it didn’t reach its destination. He mentions that he was in Rossville, Georgia on April 15, and in Huntsville, Alabama, Thursday last. He notes that he has four more months to serve, and that he is looking forward to being home again. He again mentions Louis Taft, a mutual acquaintance.

Records are unclear as to the year of Julia St. Clair’s death. If it was 1864, it would seem that this is the reason he never heard from her again.  [JP]

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

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 AUGUST 1864 SOLDIER LETTER & COVER - PRIVATE JACOB R. STEINMETZ, CO. “C” & “L,” 15TH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, TO SUPPOSED SWEETHEART JULIA ST. CLAIR

For inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

featured item

FANTASTIC GETTYSBURG ALS DATED JULY 9, 1863 – HIRAM C. ALLEMAN, MILITARY GOVERNOR OF GETTYSBURG – RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTION OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED, AND DISCARDED MILITARY EQUIPMENT

2pp, in ink, dated Gettysburg, July 9, 1863.  Excellent condition, no tears or stains.  All clearly legible. Written by Hiram Clay Alleman (1831-1906), newly appointed Military Governor of Gettysburg, to Major John S. Schultz, AAG Dept. of the… (2023-1727). Learn More »

Upcoming Events

29
Mar

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

Instagram