About this Item
On offer is an important archive of sixteen [16] letters, nine of which are dated from the Civil War, with war content and of particular note being a June 1863 letter regarding the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania, one later 1894 postcard and two Leer calling cards. All of the letters were written to Peter Leer, a young boy or young man who lived in York Springs, Pennsylvania in Adams County, just north of Gettysburg. A photograph of Leer, later in life, with his wife, is included with this group. Most of the letters appear to have been written by Delilah Jones, who lived in Cumberland County, probably somewhere between Shippensburg and Carlisle. Here are some snippets: June 21, 1863 "I have come back on account of the rebels coming. There was a grate time here on Tusday the news come that the rebels whare at Shippensburg. Sutch a time I never saw. all the men took thare horses and went to the mountains. They left the women at home to take care of themselves.I was not afraid. they said they would be here on Wednesday afternoon. Lizzie Gaymon and I went to the bottom rode to see them coming but whe whare disapointed .thare were five men come from Franklin Co they brought ten horses with them. last night thare was a man come with eight horses. he lives too miles from greencastle the rebels are encamped neer thare they are taking hundreds of horses up there. I dont think they will come here.I want you to answer this right away.and tell me.wether the people are scared about the rebels coming.I think you need not bee uneasy they will hardly get over there." Other letters written in the Spring of 1864 note a renewed fear that the rebels will invade again and another dated July 24, 1864 which references Early's movement into Pennsylvania that summer. Another war dated letter references a local soldier who was killed at Petersburg and the end of the war. The letters also discuss farm life, making apple butter, the apple and peach crops, bad conditions of the roads. All of the letters have their original envelopes. Some envelopes have some age discoloration, but overall the letters are in excellent condition. Here are notes regarding Peter Leer's Civil War service: 103rd Regiment was organized on February 24, 1862, under Col. Theodore F. Lehman, and was reorganized in March, 1865, when Company A's eighty-eight officers and men, from Franklin County, became connected with it. The war having closed, the regiment was mustered out of service June 25, 1865. Company A. - Captain, Elias K. Lehman; first lieutenant, George C. Carson; second lieutenant, Samuel H. Eicholtz; first sergeant, Frederick K. Rife; sergeants, Peter Leer, John G. Ritter, Samuel Lentz and Amos G. Huber; Corporal, George Robertson, H.W. Hurtsell, Fedde Fixson, Jacob G. Eicholtz, Joseph Gabler, William W. Hewitt, Henry L. Reitzell and Israel Slothoner. Size: 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. Seller Inventory # 000713
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