Our letter dated “Camp near Warrenton, Va. November 22^nd, 1863” is filled with content about the “Grey Ghost” John Mosby.  The writer, Allen L. Bevan, was a Private in Company B of the 1^st Pennsylvania Cavalry and served his full three years.  The letter is written on legal size stationary in nice dark ink.  It has a great I.D. at the end.  Bevan is writing to his sister Lizzie.

Transcription:
                                                                                                            Camp near Warrenton, Va.
                                                                                                                                 Nov. 22^nd, 1863

My Dear Sister Lizzie,

               I received your welcome letter of the 15^th yesterday and was
very glad to hear from you as I had not received a letter from you
before this month.  We are doing Picket duty here and scouting after
“Mosby’s” men, who are very troublesome to our Pickets and also to
our wagon train, which they attacked yesterday at Fayetteville about
two miles from our camp and captured about eighteen or twenty mules
and eight or ten men.  The afterwards sent up a small party and fired
into the camp of the 1^st Massachusetts Cavalry when we were ordered
out and pursured them about twenty miles but did not get come up to
them.  We captured three of them and eight or ten horses we returned
to camp about twelve o’clock last night very tired, very muddy as it
rained all day and very hungry as we had no supper, as we started just

after dinner and rode at a gallop all the way out; coming back in a walk. 
I do wish I could take my Christmas dinner at home but I do not have
any idea of coming up quite that soon; but hope I may come out safe at
the end of eight months and then I think I will call around as I have not
seen “you all” for some time or longer. 

               We expect to go on picket in the morning and will be on two

days before we are relieved; hope old Mosby’s men do not call around
at my post as I am afraid somebody would get hurt and am a little
afraid of being captured, although I am always very careful, but as
you do not know anything about picketing there is no use of me trying
to tell you anything about it but I may well say it is a little dangerous
in this country.

               The news from Burnsides army today looks as if he is in a very
light place and I think he will lose a great many men getting out if he
gets out at all which I hope he may do safely.  We do not get any news
at all here from the front and whether Meade is at Brandy Station or

at the Rapidan we do not know as it is about thirty miles from here to
the Rapidan to keep inside of our lines.  I suppose we are kept here to
prevent Mosby from making a rail on the railroad in Meade’s rear and
thereby cutting off his supplies.  I hope you are all well and having fine
times.  Give my love to all.  Hoping to hear from you soon.  I remain
your affectionate brother,

                                                   Allen L. Bevan

                                                   Co. B, 1^st PA. Cav.

To his Sister Lizzie

 

 

Please send a few postage stamps in your next and oblige your loving
brother, Al.   I have not seen any Paymaster for two months and am a
little short but hope he will soon be around.                        Al L. Bevan

The letter has some staining, wrinkling and slight paper loss at a few folds, but has a great “look”!  If you are a 1^st Pa. Cav. collector or a collector of Mosby related letters, this is a nice one! 

#L152 - Price $195

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