Confederate letter written while in the trenches at Petersburg, Virginia July 18, 1864.  Corporal Samuel Kennedy from Orangeburg C.H., South Carolina and a member of Co. G 25^th South Carolina Infantry presents a graphic description of the horrible lifestyle of trench warfare.  Many of his comrades are picked off by Yankee Sharpshooters and those that aren’t are reduced to eating horsemeat.  The letter is written on one half of a ledger page.  Sam writes on both sides in dark very readable pencil.  This letter comes with the envelope that it was sent in addressed to his wife, Julia.  On the envelope is written “Pr. Boy Wash.”  Wash was apparently a black servant boy. 

# L5 - Price $1,295

Transcription of letter:

Near Petersburg July 18, 1864

My Dear Julia,   I wrote you a few lines day- before yesterday and as I suppose the mail make the trip.  Now I write you a few lines again this morning more to let you know that all of us are well.  Than anything else, as there has been no changes in our position and things are near about as quiet as usual consequently I have nothing of much importance to write about.  One of the men of our company (Bradham) was shot through his hat a little while ago by a Yankee sharp shooter, the ball grazed his ear but inflicted no injury of any consequence – Also a man (Gervy) our mail carrier while on James Island belonging to a company adjoining ours was shot through the head, also by a sharp shooter this morning; and instantly killed.  Our Regiment looses a man every now and then by the Sharp Shooters, which is a very cruel mode of warfare but I believe our men are worse at it than the Yankees.  We are still living out a miserable like in the trenches, dirty, confined and loathsome place.  We cannot get outside the trenches for if we do we are liable to be seen and shot by the Yankee sharpshooters.  We live pretty hard, our principle diet is corn bread and a little old bacon.  Our men became so bad off for something fresh to eat that a good many of them the other day ate heartily of a horse that had been killed near our lines by the Yankee sharpshooters they said it ate very nice, and wanted me to eat some, but I was sick anyhow and I could not think of it.  The horse belonged to the General and was in fine order.  I had no idea so many men would eat horse flesh without being reduced to a great necessity.  I hear again Bish was dead, but I don’t believe it, as you said nothing about it in your letter.  I suppose it originated from the old report or from Frank Inabinett having died, I would like to get a pair of pants – if you have the cotton pants – you spoke of and get an opportunity of sending a pair, I would be glad if you would do so, two members of our company reached here from Orangeburg yesterday Pauling and Ben Tyler, the captain has not returned to the company as yet.  Wayne and & Jake are well . My love to all, your affectionate, Sam.