Dated “Nashville Feb. 3^d 1863.” Addressed to Julia St. Clair. 2 pp. in ink on unlined paper. Exhibits fold-marks. Else VG.  In protective sleeve, accompanied by documentation.

Jacob Steinmetz enlisted as a private in Co. “C”, 15^th 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 the Gen. Stoneman’s huge cavalry raid near the end of the war.

Julia St. Clair [1842-1862] was a great-grand daughter of Revolutionary War general Arthur St. Clair. It seems certain that Jacob Steinmetz was romantically link with Julia, but in 1864 or 65, she died.  His last letters to her are ones asking why she hasn’t written to him.

Text summary:  Steinmetz writes about a small skirmish with the Rebels. He says he would have written sooner but his regt. has been on the road since leaving Louisville. He says he was ordered to the front at the Battle of Stones river and that about 270 others went, but that the rest of the Anderson Troops did not go and because they had been originally assigned as command post bodyguards, they refused to fight. [The Anderson Troop mutinied…but they were given a choice, either fight or be put under arrest.] He mentions that the 15^th PA Cavalry is in a disorganized state, and some were in the guardhouse. Jaco chose to fight…he fought in the Battle of Murfreesboro and was wounded by a “bungling Reb”. He tells her that he was hospitalized.    [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!