The Union Soldier Met Stonewall Jackson - “He is a fine looking old chap and was dressed in an elegant suit of dark cloth.”

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Raynors Spring Americana Auction - Feb 28 Par...

By Raynor's Historical Collectible Auctions

Feb 28, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-02-28 10:00:00 2026-02-28 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Raynors Spring Americana Auction - Feb 28 Part1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/raynors-historical-auctions/raynors-spring-americana-auction---feb-28-part1-22414
Fascinating Americana Auction offering item in all periods of American history., from colonial through WWII. The items are offered as Autographs, Broadsides, Civil Wat Relics, Civil War Diaries, Confederate items. Political, Presidential, 20th Century Israel, Early Sports. Raynor's Historical Collectible Auctions bob@hcaauctions.com

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• Lot Description
  Union Soldier’s twelve page letter written by Edward H. Henderson who enlisted on 6/20/1861 as a Priv. into "I" Co. Pennsylvania 39th Infantry. He was listed as: wounded 6/27/1862 Gaines' Mill, VA and as POW 12/13/1862 Fredericksburg, VA. He was Mustered Out on 6/11/1864 at Pittsburgh, PADatelined: Camp Parole Feb. 14th/63 to Friend Mernie. In part, “You are no doubt aware that yours truly has been down at Richmond on a visit to Uncle Jeff, and as it is probable that you would like to know something about the C. S. A., I will give you a brief "gas" on that subject. I was taken in the R. R. with about 60 of the 10th on Saturday, the 13th of Dec. Our Brigade which had been supporting batteries all morning, but at 10 am. were ordered to advance and drive the Reb Sharp Shooters from their cover in the R. R. and a ditch. We did advance under a crossfire of shot and shell and made the secesh hunt the woods in fine style. We covered in the R. R. and gave them a volley. They were not slow to return the compliment and the woods & railroad were soon sheets of flame. We broke their two first lines of battle, but at 2 p.m. our ammunition was exhausted and we were flanked on the right. At this most of the boys ran back and those who did not were taken, for a Brigade of "Butternuts" came, charging from the woods and we surrendered. ... They took us to old Jackson's Head Quarters. He was in the road near a large house about 3/4 mile from where we were captured. He is a fine looking old chap and was dressed in an elegant suit of dark cloth. He sent us to the Provost Marshall at Summit Station where we were placed in a field and surrounded by guards. It was a cool evening and I pitied some of those guards for they were in their bare feet. We went supperless to bed for we had nothing to eat. ... In the moming, we started and at noon halted at Jackson's camp to get rations. At night we received 3/4 lb. flour & the same of bacon to each man. This was small rations for men who had fasted for two days ... On Monday morning we started again and at 1 p.m. halted at Guinea's Station. Here we stayed all night and on Tuesday morning after drawing rations of 5 "hardtack" & 3/4 lb. bacon per man, we started again, escorted by a Co. of Lee's body guards. This was the best lot of traitors I saw. When on the march some of them would dismount and let our tired boys ride their horses & when we halted, they would carry rails for us to make fires. ... At dark we landed from the cars in Richmond and a short walk brought us to the world renowned Libby Prison. We were taken into the office by twos and relieved of our knapsacks, ponchos, & canteens, after which we signed the "parole" and were distributed through the various rooms of the building, 213 of the ‘Yanks’ including my friend Win Rose & myself. It was a room 103 feet long & 40 wide, (I know the dimensions for we measured it), and contained 17 windows, most of which were filled with boards, the glass having been broken. The floor (our bed) which I suppose has not been cleaned since the first Bull Run fight, had near 1/2 inch of dirt on it. The room also contained a stove and fire place. That floor was a tough bed, but as we had our blankets we did very well. Our rations consisted of 6 oz. bread, 1 pt. soup, & about 2 oz. meat, twice per diem. It was not near enough, but as we had an opportunity of buying bread at 12 to 20 cts. per loaf of 12 oz., we did not often suffer severely from hunger. All articles except tobacco are very dear in the city. Pies about 6 inches in diameter and as thick as a tin plate cost 25 cts. "Rough & Ready" 2 feet long and 1 1/2 feet wide and 1 inch thick sold for $2.50. (Rough & Ready is a concern made of bread, molasses & vinegars and when cut it looks very like a fine oil stone.) We amused ourselves by making bone rings, smoking, reading the Reb. papers, discussing the news of the day, and "gasing" to the Rebel guards. But time passed slowly for we knew that our friends were uncertain of our fate. We started on that ill fated charge and as we disappeared over the hill, our Batteries opened fire and the heavy smoke settled like a pall and hid us from view. One of the boys in our room died lying on that dirty floor. We could give him no aid, but when he was dead, we straightened his muscular limbs & wrapped his coat of blue around his cold form. It was a trying scene even to us who were used to scenes of death. ... It was a happy time for us when we were ordered to City Point. As we passed from the prison, the Rebels took our blankets, cups, and plates and gave us each 6 oz. bread. We took the cars early and at noon reached the city of Petersburg, which city is more remarkable for niggers than anything else. At 2 p.m. we reached City Point, where we were soon put on board the truce boat Metamora. The starry old flag never looked so bright and beautiful as then. That night we anchored off the mouth of the Chickahominy and on the next day came to Ft. Monroe where we stayed till night, when we started again and on Monday reached Annapolis, which is poor shakes of a city. ...”
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