CIVIL War Andersonville Prison Pow 4th Massachusetts Cavalry Soldier Letter
An Original Civil War Letter with postal cover and enclosed fig leaf, from James B Burnell, at Hilton Head, SC, April 10, 1864, with December, 1864 postal cover addressed by "Assistant Surgeon ES Dunster", addressed to F. Hutchinson, Milford, Mass enclosing Pvt Burnell's letter. The cover is stamped Missent, with cancellations for Philadelphia, Pa, and again for Milford Massachusetts.
Private James B Burnell served 2 years with the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry, was captured at the Battle of Halsey's Plantation (Big Gum Creek) Florida October 24, 1864, a POW art Andersonville Prison, Georgia and died soon after liberation aboard the US Transport Neptune, March, 1865. The letter is from Private Burnell at Hilton Head, South Carolina, April 15, 1864 to "Friend Lizzie"(Lizzie Frost) - He writes that he arrived at Hilton Head after a rough 10 day boat ride with the regiment, he likes the cavalry first rate, drills daily with his "splendid horse " full of the devil" and reports Hilton Head is quite a place, trees in full bloom and encloses a present- the leaf of a fig tree which he plucked "while riding this morning"- ". He reports "The South is splendid country" but he" hasn't seen a white woman since leaving Boston, plenty of colored ones", and he says "dam a niger" for they laugh and make fun of our riders.
He reports the officers are good men, our captain "a little man about my size". He plans to return and ride in style up Main St with Lizzie Frost and "with good pay to "soot (as a suitor to) L. F" and signs "your friend in haste, James B Burnell", with a PS- Direct letters to Hilton Head, SC, Co A, 4th Mass Cav Captain Keith". 4pp 8 x 5, ink. The letter and cover have Edge wear, ink stains, Overall VG.
The fig leaf is torn and folded. The 4th Mass Cavalry served 1863-65, their big fight was Big Gum Creek, (Halsey's Plantation, Middlegurg, Florida) October 24, 1864 where they were defeated after burning downtown Middleburg. Private Burnell was taken prisoner and a POW at Andersonville, Georgia, and died May 14, 1865 aboard the US Army Transport Neptune. I assume the letter was received and a keepsake of Lizzie Frost's would be suitor. General Orders and other imprints.
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