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Letter from James Graham to mother, Richmond, VA, April 8, 1865
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TitleLetter from James Graham to mother, Richmond, VA, April 8, 1865
SubjectGraham, James--Correspondence. Graham, James--Military service. United States. Army. Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 206th (1864-1865)--Biography. United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Military life—Union—Personal narratives. Petersburg Crater, Battle of, 1864. Richmond (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources.
DescriptionThis is a letter from James Graham to his mother from Richmond, VA, dated April 8, 1865. [On April 3, 1865 Richmond fell to Union troops. On April 9, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse]. He has been on guard for the last four days and was given a break on this day. He described Richmond as a splendid, high city, the most impressive he has been in since he left home. He thinks that his company was more favored than any other. Miraculously, they have escaped the worse of the fighting, he believes. His regiment had picket duty but was relieved by another regiment as they made their way to Fort Brady. That other regiment ended up fighting. Two hundred of them were captured and taken prisoner. When his regiment left for Fort Brady, they departed at midnight, and the second day the camp was shelled. He heard that his brigade was [cut?] badly at the Battle of Petersburg [perhaps he is referring to the Battle of Petersburg Crater, July 30, 1864 in which Union forces sustained heavy casualties] and that that some of his regiment's sharp shooters were killed. He writes that there was a report that Isack Smow [Snow?] was killed, but there is some doubt. Another report is that one soldier of his company was killed and one wounded. He writes that Colonel Daniel [?] of his old brigade was wounded. He ends by saying that he has not had a letter for two weeks.
CreatorGraham, James
DateApril 8, 1865
FormatPDF
IdentifierGC52
SourceHistorical and Genealogical Society of Indiana, PA
RightsThe digitized images of letters, photographs, and other items from the Graham Collection in the "Indiana, Pennsylvania in the Civil War" exhibit are the property of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County, Pa. These images may only be used for non-commercial, educational purposes under "Fair Use" guidelines. For additional information contact: HGSIC, 621 Wayne Avenue, Indiana, Pa. 15701; (724) 463-9600. Email ichistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
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