All items here are from the same estate, but it is unknown as to whether they were associated during the Civil War. The lot to include: Union soldier's war-date letter by Corporal Joseph H. Burtt, Co. "B," 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Falmouth, Virginia, May 11, 1863, to his younger brother, William, n.p., written on both sides of a partially printed Muster-Out Roll (10.5 x 30.5 in.), largely discussing the Chancellorsville campaign and reading, in part: "Dear Billie…I am still well and in the land of the living…I have come to the conclusion to give you a little sketch of my own experience since we left this camp…they moved toward the River, where the Pontoon Bridges were already across. This was on the 28th…we had very heavy fireing on the right our lines where Old Joe has been fighting them for the last two or three days. Early on the morning of the 29th we were awakened and packed up…we started and struck out for the river…Hooker was giving them something war on the right whose guns sounded louder than ever…the right had taken and flanked them out of there earthworks and we had . surrounded them and they either had to come out fight us on our own ground or surrender as starve to death. Hurrah, who wouldn’t cheer for such news as that no body was in better spirits than the sixth Corps. And then there were more good news. Peck had whiped Longstreet and had taken Petersburgh and would be into Richmond while Hookers line was from Fredericksburg to Gorduonsville and Old Joe was going to drive the Rebs to Port Royal where our Gun Boats could participate in the fight and we would wind the Rebs all up here and we we’ll all go home next week…All our boys wanted to cross the pontoon Bridge at Fredericksburg so they could see the town and see some of the Pretty Girls for we have not seen any Girls since we left Maryland. Except some young American Cousins that have been to see some of our officers during the night…Morning come at last , and with it a good deal of skirmishing for our corps which then lay about a mile below the city. During the day the corps worked its way upwards the city and there they took those great earthworks above the city…Gen Stonemason with his Cavalry has made a raid in the rear of them and has Blown up all the Railroad Bridges, then up the railroad track and Johnny Reb will soon run out of ammunition. Then we will have them sure. Three cheers Good news again…Vicksburg is taken. Gen. Rosecrans is fighting them and our Boys have got the better of them at Charleston. And all that is got to be done now is for Hooker to capture the Reb over here and then the war will be over. “Hurrah” for Joe. he’s the man that can do that. Everything depends on the sixth Corps…then opened all the Reble Artillery that they could bring to bear on the line…when they came to the great stone wall a volley of musketry then grape and canister…the fighting commenced and every thing looked first rate until about ten o'clock when the Rebs charged on the city…they captured some straglers and a few wagons…it was about this time that the heavyest fighting took place when they drove our corps to ward Bank’s ford and all this time Old Joe did not do any fighting on the right…our Corps checked them at last and held them at last for they had two hard men to fight: Stonewall & Longstreet…On the morning of the 4th our Regt was sent out to support the pickets…it was every man for himself and it was in getting out of this fix that Col Patterson one Capt two Lieut and seventy men were captured also our colors. Our Color surge Johnny Drava was mortally wounded also the Capt that took them after he fell was wounded and he could take them no farther gave them to a surge of the 8th Penn Cav which was with the Regt as Vedettes…We doubt you have heard a great deal about us losing them…this was one of the most miserable nights I have ever put in since I have been in the army…." Burtt survived the war despite serving in a hard-fighting regiment that endured the Army of the Potomac's toughest engagements (several edge splits and fold creases; old tape repair; fair condition, but legible and solid); the accompanying artifacts are housed in a small late 19th century lidded box. They include a copper alloy South Carolina palmetto hatpin (2 in.) (in two pieces); Georgia state seal coat button, blank back; Connecticut state seal coat button, Scovill backmark; New York state seal coat button, Extra Quality backmark; General Service eagle button with Extra Quality backmark. Rounding out the lot are two Western Shore Railroad coat button from New York and four "AGENT" buttons from an unknown source.

Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Moller, Durham, NC

Joseph Burtt's letter was saved by being rolled up in one of his brother William's letterheads, which is present here. An inscription on one side reads, "Letter 62 inches long written from a battle ground during Civil War.

$400 - 800