30+ Civil War CSA Confederate Letter Collection

Over 30 letters and a few documents from three brothers, Georgia militiamen, J.W. Carswell, O.P. Carswell and O.N. Carswell, written for the most part to their parents. The first letter is dated 1858 and is in the California gold fields where a brother is gold mining, the remaining are 1861 and 1862, until J.W. is killed at Manassas, lots of fighting details. J.W. writes in an 1861 letter: “Since I last spoke to you I have been 4 or 5 fights, I came very close to losing my life on the 8th near Harrisonburg. I have since seen 5 or 6 thousand Prisoners, and a great many killed. I think there will be a great battle near Richmond which I think will end the War.” In 1861, J.W. writes “Guards fired on Prisoners attempting to escape, in confusion Regiment fired without order killing 4 men and wounding several other.” In one letter, J.W. writes to President Davis in hopes of being Furloughed for being a miner. Lots of discussion of living conditions as well as General Jackson and other known individuals. Very good, legible condition. Rare and interesting ALS grouping. This lot has a reserve.