US Civil War, 11th Iowa Soldiers Letter & New Testament, Siege of Atlanta, Great Content
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $450.00

Original period manufacture. Great little lot, purchased from the descendants of the soldier who served with the 11th Iowa Infantry from September of 1861 to July of 1865. The lot includes a handwritten single sheet of paper, folded and written on four sides, envelope for same, a receipt for a cemetery lot purchased in 1894 for the soldier and a well worn, pocket sized New Testament. The letter is well written and in a clear, readable hand with great detail. A sampling is as follows; ".... Camp in the field, near Atlanta Ga, September 17th 1864, Dear Samantha, ...our Regiment has been in a good many different engagements in this campaign and we have lost very heavy in officers and men. The entire loss of our company in this campaign has been 20, seven killed, twelve wounded and one missing. The summer campaign is closed and our army is encamped within the suburbs of Atlanta. The Rebels evacuated the city on the 1st inst and our troops took possesion of it on the morning of the 2nd inst.  Atlanta used to be a very important place before the war broke out and even during the Rebellion. It was considered one of the principal manufacturing towns in the state of Georgia. It was celebrated for its Iron foundries and xxxxx shops  and the Rebels cast their Siege guns and Shells here before we got possesion of the place. I visited the city a few days ago and found it in a very deplorable condition. There is not a single house in Atlanta that has no marks of shells and bullets. Some houses are literally riddled to pieces...." And more. The soldiers name was Dean Ford and he served with Company E.