Consisting of eleven letters and one postal cover, mostly octavo, penned by Captain Robert J. Nevin, Co. "C," 122nd Pennsylvania Volunteers and, later, Nevin's Independent Battery I, Pennsylvania Light Artilley, to his cousin, Mrs. George Bradish (Lizzie) of Flushing, New York. The letters offer great eyewitness content and read, in part: "(Near Lancaster, PA, 3/29/62)...The cousin, Lt. Jno. I Nevin - whom I visited on the Potomac this winter, has been taken prisoner lately and is now in Richmond. The report is that he being sick got separated from his regt...lost his way, and stumbled upon Secession pickets...(n.p., 5/30/62)...there is every indication of a continued war, and when that is over, of subjugated and garrisoned provinces held in the Union only by fear...(On picket near Ft. B(?), VA, 8/10/62 - 9/62)...I am in command of our Company...The idea of our pickets is to prevent a surprise by Stuart's cavalry...But on 1st Sept. we marched from our camp at Clouds Mills...to join Pope's Army at Centerville we thought. The road was crowded with wagons and runaway stragglers from the late battles (Second Manassas)...we went ahead to Fairfax CH, it was a scene of utter confusion and dismay, of complete panic among the wagons who were driving pell mell towards Washington. We were seized upon by Gen. Hooker, and sent to a neighboring hill to support the artillery of our brigade...It was the battle in which we lost Kearny & Stevens (Ox Hill)...We look upon ourselves as somewhat seasoned, as something more than raw recruits...Our clothes no longer look painfully new... (Hd. Qrs. Whipples Div., Fredericksburg, VA, 12/14/62)...I am unhurt. The battle is yet undecided - It is horrible. The scenes on the field & in the town are shocking. Here we are penned up in the town & the space of perhaps a quarter of a mile outside of it. Our whole army. They shell us at varied intervals - our house was struck twice today. One cannot venture any distance beyond the houses without being exposed to the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters. We must storm their works soon or retire. Our men held their places today, squatted in the mud against the hillsides, the tops of which, not many yards off, are held by the Rebels. One cannot get out to our troops by day, without running a fearful risk. The Gen. tried it this morning with three of us. He had to turn, and rode back in a perfect storm of balls - all unhurt, thank God. Oh for peace...(Hd. Qrs, 3rd Div. 3rd Corps. 4/12/63)...My men want me to raise a battery, probably the 122nd will be reorganized...Mr. Lincoln finished reviewing the Army on Friday...Cousin Frank will tell you about the grand Review of the 2d 3d 5th 6th Corps...they looked equally well...send me in the next letter a couple of lozenges of light blue velvet. It is the distinctive badge of my position in the army. the shape (diamond) indicates 3rd Corps, the color 3rd Div....("Old Qrs.", 7/14/64)...A picnic party a few miles out had a descent made upon their 'ices &c' by a squad of Mosby's men. The cavaliers also indulged in a dance on the occasion...(Fort Whipple, VA, 4/29/65)...Since I voted for Mr. Lincoln in 1864 I have watched his course more impartially and have learned to put unbounded faith in his honesty, his wisdom and his goodness...He alone of our leaders seemed to stand so far above all personal and sectional feelings...when he was taken away so suddenly - and just at the moment all men most depended on him - I was fairly stunned. I anticipated all the horrors of indefinitely prostrated war...I should have not been surprised to have heard that the Devil is on the loose..." Also included is an 1864 letter from a deserter asking Captain Nevin to "...try and help me out this time," plus an undated note from "L. Bradish" to a son and an 1868 letter from "G. I. Bradish" to his father.

Robert Nevin, a citizen of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, enlisted as a first lieutenant in the 122nd Pennsylvania on August 12, 1862 and served in this capacity until May 15, 1863. The regiment's toughest engagements during this period were the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Nevin left the infantry to command his own artillery company in Washington's ring of defenses, variously occupying Forts Whipple and Worth until war's end.

By descent from Helen Bradish of New York City

Some fading, age toning and light staining as expected. One with splits, else, generally good condition

$500 - 1,000