?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 4,000 - $ 6,000
"WE WHIPED THE REBLES 3 TIMES AND WE WILL WHIP THEM TONIGHT AGAIN" (MILITARY--CIVIL WAR.) Edminson, Penrose. Letter from a soldier in the 25th U.S.C.T. to his mother. Autograph Letter Signed to mother Rachel Edmsiton of McVeytown, PA. 3 pages, 8 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches, on one folding sheet, with manuscript notes on final blank; minor foxing and wear including slight loss on center fold not affecting text. With original printed Treasury Department mailing envelope bearing a Washington, DC postmark. Camp near Fort Barrancas [Pensacola], FL, 8 July 1864
This letter was written by Penrose Edminson (1844-1864), whose family name was also spelled Edmiston or Edmundson in some official records. He was born in Pennsylvania, as was his mother according to the 1860 census. He served in the 25th United States Colored Troops, which was recruited in Philadelphia. They had initially served on the defenses in New Orleans, and then went out to Fort Barrancas in July 1864. Soon after his arrival, he wrote this warm and witty letter to his mother, describing his regiment's skirmishes against the Confederates, getting prepared for dress parade, and joking that his travels have now finally surpassed his adventurous sister's: "Dear Mother, I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well, and hope these few lines may find you the same. I reseved your kind letter that you wrote on the 14th day of June. I was very glad to here from you. We have been drawed up in a line of battle two nights hard running for fight. The Rebs shot some 12 or 13 shots at our pickets but did not hurt anyone. We was waiting for them, but they did not come and then we went to our quarters. They are afraid to come here. We have got too many forts here fore them. Company F takes the prais, for they are always first out. I am very sorry to hear that all of our boys are cut up so bad. How is Ant Mary getting along now? Has she been down since I left? I suppose you had a gratt time on the Forth of July. Sis plagued me. She said she had been furder than me, but I ges I am up to her now. I have seen the elephant since, more than ever she has seen or ever will see. If ever I get home, McVeytown won't hold me any more. Don't foreget to send me 3 dollars and some postage stamps. I must fetch my letter to a close and get ready fore dress perraid." He concludes with a postscript: "We whiped the rebles 3 times and we will whip them tonight again." Penrose never did make it home to tease his sister or celebrate another Fourth of July. He died at Fort Barrancas on 26 October, most likely of disease, as so many soldiers did.
