(CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE) Swan William D Letter from a Confed

Sale 2533 - Lot 59

Price Realized: $ 625

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900

(CIVIL WAR--CONFEDERATE.) Swan, William D. Letter from a Confederate soldier in a Union prison, with cover bearing the censor's stamp. Autograph Letter Signed to Charles Swan of Elmira, NY. One page, 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches; lacking integral blank, folds, minimal wear. With mailing envelope bearing Elmira postmark and inked stamp reading "Prisoner's Letter, Examined, Elmira." Elmira, NY, 28 July 1864

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William Duvall Swan (1841-1926), a miller's apprentice of West View, VA, served in the 52nd Virginia Infantry. He wrote this letter from a Union prison camp. His correspondent was insurance agent Charles Swan (1828-1902) who lived near the prison, apparently no close relation. The prisoner thanks his namesake for a care package including "nice paper, ink, and pens, and many other valuable articles that is useful to a soldier, and especially one occupying the position I am. The good crackers & oysters was rather a great treat to me." He then offers his thoughts on the war: "Our once beautiful and once happy, but now desolved and distracted country is in a miserable condition, all occasioned by this unholy war. May it be God's good will and pleasure to soon bring the war to a close . . . and the soldiers be permitted to return to their fireside." He adds: "Your given name is the same of my father, who lives in Virginia."