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At Appomattox Court House - an attempt to help a divided family: Letter written by Sgt. John B. Young, 15th Louisiana Infantry...
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Description
At Appomattox Court House - an attempt to help a divided family: Letter written by Sgt. John B. Young, 15th Louisiana Infantry.This 1 1/3 page letter in ink on the typical brown Confederate paper is headed, "Appomattox Court House, Va. April 11th, 1865".
Sgt. John B. Young of the 15th Louisiana writes to the father of Capt. Joseph F. Witherup of Co. H of the 15th, Louisiana. Joseph grew up in Trenton, New Jersey and that's where his father and stepmother lived. Joseph apparently was working in Louisiana prior to the war and felt his allegiance to the South. At some point, he married a gal that lived near Lynchburg, Va. Records show that on July 1st, 1862 Joseph was commissioned Captain of Co. H of the 15th La.
John had visited Joe and his wife on March 20th, 1865 at their home near Lynchburg. At that time Joe had received a letter from a family friend, George Furman, stating the death of his stepmother & the illness of his brother.
After this meeting John and Joe were returning to their regiment, however, John was captured. The U.S. troops had gained control of Lynchburg.
Joe had asked John that if he was captured and sent north, would he please try to write Joe's parents in New Jersey because his wife had no money and wanted to come and stay with them. Speaking of where she was living (Pearman's Tanner at Campbell Court House, 12 miles from Lynchburg, Va.), he states, "You cannot purchase anything with Confederate money there now."
John B. Young, recently released from Elmira Prison, had not had a chance to write Joseph's father. Now at Appomattox Court House, just two days after the surrender, he has the opportunity to write. The letter has great eye appeal and comes with a fine stamped envelope with "OLD POINT COMFORT, VA. APR. 18" postmark. Letters headed Appomattox Court House are of course quite scarce and desirable. This letter attempting to reunite a southern son with his northern father is especially poignant.
"Appomattox Court House Va.
April 11th 1865.
Mr. David Witherup
Dear Sir
Doubtless you will be somewhat astonished in receiving this note from a stranger, but as I promised your son that I would write to you in case that I should be taken a prisoner. I would have wrote to you whilst I was a prisoner at Elmira N. Y. before I was exchanged, but I did not know your address. Joe received a letter on the 20th of March from George Furman stating the death of his step mother & the illness of his brother. His wife is anxious to come and stay with you and would come if she could only raise the funds to start with. She lives at Mr. Pearman's Tanner at Campbell Court House, 12 miles from Lynchburg, Va. You cannot purchase any thing with Confederate money there now. Joe & his wife were well when I met them on the 20th of March last. Please to write to them and tell them where I am. I expect to go home now as we have been told that we would be sent home. Perhaps Joe is a prisoner also. He lives only twenty miles from where I was captured, and the United States troops have taken Lynchburg also. No more at present from your friend,
John B. Young
Co. H, 15 La.
To: Mr. David Witherup
Trenton, New Jersey" From the Calvin Packard Civil War Battlefield Letter Collection.
Auction Info
2020 December 6 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature Auction - Dallas #6229 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2020
6th
Sunday
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