Dated “From the Field Near Petersburg / Sabbath Afternoon July 24 /’64.” 3pp. in ink on lined paper, 7.75 x 9.75.” Exhibits fold-marks, very slight scattered foxing, Else. G.

Seely Conover was a 21 year-old private who mustered into Co. “B”, 115^th New York Infantry, 8/11/1862. He was listed as a POW, 9/15/1862, at Harper’s Ferry and was paroled. He was promoted to Corporal, 10/11/1862, and was wounded in action  at Deep Bottom, VA, wounded in action,  and was once again a POW, exchanged 11/25/1864, returned 3/14/1865, and mustered out with his regiment at Raleigh, NC, 6/17/1865.

Following their parole to Camp Douglas in September, the 115^th New York returned to service in November 1862 and were dispatched to the southeastern theater, in the Carolinas and Florida. In the summer of 1864 they returned to Virginia, attached to the Army of the James, and engaged at Bermuda Hundred and Cold Harbor, taking part in the Siege of Petersburg, before being dispatched with the Fort Fisher Expedition and taking part in the occupation of Wilmington, then joining in the Carolinas Campaign and the occupation of Raleigh and were present at the Bennet House for Joe Johnston’s surrender to General Sherman. During service the unit lost 135 killed and mortally wounded and 188 men by disease for a total of 323. This unit is listed in “Fox’s Fighting 300 Regiments.”

This letter is a lengthy grief stricken missive concerning“Winne”, Conover’s tent-mate, wounded and taken prisoner during the assault of Petersburg, VA., 6/181864. Written to a lady who seems to have possibly to have been  been “Winne’s” fiancé or girl friend,  to whom he writes as as Winne’s friend to his dearest friend.  As follows….”Your letters give me a certain pleasure I in this that the writer has a true appreciation of the many virtues of one [Winne] who was the warmest friend I ever knew, and in his absence realizes a greater loss than I. He was ever admired as one of the best boys in the Co. but his loss to them does not seem as it does to one and though many many times I hear the wish from the boys that he may once more be with us, and hoping he may have as good a time as possible yet you I know have a deeper interest in him and you only more than realize my loss, while I can in part comprehend yours. I know not but I may open afresh the channels of sorrow by constant allusions to the subject of it, but would we willingly have them closed and think no more of their cause? [in other words, Winne]

Conover continues in a religious vein of religious consolation: “Although his absence is hard to and sometimes in our despondency may imagine how much he may be suffering and the chance of his getting back is slim, we may look on the other hand and see what a powerful friend he has in Jesus…powerful enough to bring him home to your arms to be parted no more till death in old age and better than Winne believes in this Friend, and it it is consistent with his will all this will be brought about. If not, the it must be for the best as “He doeth all things well , and strength will be granted to bear all his burdens if our faith only prove sufficiently strong and lasting.”

Conover then writes what he knows of Winne’s situation: “I am morally certain that he was a wounded prisoner in Petersburg shortly after t he battle, for it came to me from two different sources. The first one was from one our own regt. who somehow saw a Petersburg paper and Winne’s name among a list of wounded that fell into their hands…and then I heard that his folks at home had heard the same thing from a paper that a lady living somewhere near Flat Creek had received from some rebel friend as her husband’s name was also in the list…

Conover writes briefly concerning the  regiment and then wraps it up by saying:  “But I must think of closing this for it is growing late, but if I have helped to shed one single ray of comfort upon your sorrow I feel that I am amply rewarded besides the comfort I myself receive in discoursing upon the nobleness of a dear friend to one who was his dearest friend. For the present we will leave all with God and only [pray, and believe me your trust and confidence is sacred to me even as the memory of him who for the present is absent from us. With much sympathy and affection I am.///Truly your friend /Seeley Conover.”

Remarkable letter of condolence from a 115^th soldier to the girlfriend of his tentmate and best friend, wounded and captured at Petersburg, VA, 6/18/1864. Superb collectible.  [JP]  [ph:L]

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