(CIVIL WAR OHIO) Shons William H Letters on the service and

Sale 2380 - Lot 97

Price Realized: $ 438

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

Estimate: $ 300 - $ 400

(CIVIL WAR--OHIO.) Shons, William H. Letters on the service and death of a private in the 104th Ohio. 5 Autograph Letters Signed by Shons to his wife Melvina and his Anglemyer in-laws, 1862-63, plus 3 letters from his father Jacob Shons to the Anglemyers dated 1863-65, and one stamped envelope. Various sizes, moderate wear and foxing; one letter on printed Battle of Winchester stationery. Vp, 1862-65 and undated

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William Henry Shons (1837-1863) of Salem, Columbiana County, OH enlisted in the 104th Ohio Infantry in August 1862, along with his brother-in-law Joseph Anglemyer. He spent almost his entire term of duty in Kentucky, and never saw any combat. He discusses Confederate money, his Bible readings, and news of Joseph, who apparently wasn't cut out to be a soldier. On 24 January 1863, he told his wife that "Joseph is a talking about runing off from the Army as soon as he draws his money. He says that he won't stay any longer." Four days later, he wrote that Joseph "would roun of if we went to Tensee. I don't think we had it very hard yet."
William succumbed to disease in Kentucky, 5 April 1863. The collection includes a letter from his father Jacob Shons written within a week of his death: "It made us lament and morn. We hope that our loss will be his gain." Brother-in-law Joseph stuck it out in the service, but also died just a month later.