47038: William L. Colley and Thomas W. Colley, 1st Virg

William L. Colley and Thomas W. Colley, 1st Virginia Cavalry, Group of Letters. Two war-dated letters, dating January 15, 1862 and December 1, 1862. Together with one war-dated letter from his brother Thomas W. Colley, dated September 22, 1861. The brothers served in Company D, 1st Virginia Cavalry. Thomas enlisted in May 1861, and his brother William followed him in March 1862. Both were unlucky in battle, with Thomas being wounded four times and losing a finger, hand, and a foot over the course of his service, and William being wounded twice. The letters, written to their family, contain details of the regiment's near constant skirmishing throughout Virginia and Maryland. In the first letter, dated September 22, 1861 from " Camp Longstreat", Thomas Colley updates his family on local boys in the regiment and then writes: " …We still retain the same position that we did when I wrote to you only that we have moved our camp down closer to Munson Hill. We are encamped two miles this side of Munson's Hill…They will not let any citizen pass down here anymore. I think they are making preparations for a battle. I saw several large cannons going down to Munson Hill. They were large seage guns. I do not care how soon it comes for my part. I am tired of laying in camp…Ther has been no late cases of feaver. I think ther will be no more cases this fall…" [Four pages of a bifolium, 7.75" x 9.75"]. Four months later, on January 15, 1862 from "C amp near Hanover C.H.", William Colley wrote his sister that he and Thomas would likely not make it home for a while, writing: "…We have been on the march for too [ sic] days and I was very much fatigued from the march for I had to walk as I sent my horse home…Tell Father that I gave Little Charley fifty dollars to take my horse and Tom's home…They say Gen. R.E. Lee has isued and order to grant no more furlows and if so I will not get home…If I do not get home I will send this by Will Morell…" [Two pages, 5" x 7.75"]. In the final letter, dated December 1, 1862 from " Camp Morgan", William begins writing to his sister: " …our army is falling back to Richmond again. I understood that our army or the most of it was at Hanover Junction where we was camped last summer. Our Regiment is at Gordinsville a picketing their now…" He continues the letter to his brother, " …We are at the same old camp where you left us but are going to move day after tomorrow up above Stony Point about two miles. John Smyt got off the next day after you left. Lieutenant Zanondson gave him a pass and took one for himself and so their is but five of us left…" [Four pages of a bifolium, 5" x 8"]. The letters are accompanied by a copy of 1st Virginia Cavalry by Robert Driver, Jr. Condition: Flattened mail folds, with some separation to folds on one letter. Light toning and soiling. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved