Final Letter Home To Mississippi From Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.

JohnW.

2nd Lieutenant
Joined
Sep 12, 2016
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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I happened upon this letter in the archives of the University of Mississippi. Please click on this link:

http://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/civil_war/id/1472/rv/singleitem/rec/47

The letter itself is very hard to read so there is a text transcription on the left hand side as you will see. It was written by Jeremiah Gage of Company A, 11th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry on July 3, 1863 from Gettysburg, PA. It'll put a lump in your throat.
 
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Wow...what can you say about a letter like this? It speaks for itself. This is what real Civil War history is all about...Thanks for sharing @JohnW.
I find the darndest things when I am not actually looking for them....these university and college archives are spectacular for the material that they possess. You should see some of the stuff that I have posted in the Link Directory :D
 
"Jere" Gage was 16 when he entered the University of Mississippi with a medium build, reddish blond hair and blue eyes. His was his father's favorite and excelled at Greek and Latin and was a top student. His father died in 1860 and Gage joined the University Greys. He was engaged to Mary Wendel who had violet eyes and long black hair. She later broke the engagement to test the "blinding promise."

http://www.djournal.com/oxford/life...cle_d7082eb0-ff86-568e-a039-516a5244b742.html



upload_2017-11-6_19-38-11.jpeg
 
"Jere" Gage was 16 when he entered the University of Mississippi with a medium build, reddish blond hair and blue eyes. His was his father's favorite and excelled at Greek and Latin and was a top student. His father died in 1860 and Gage joined the University Greys. He was engaged to Mary Wendel who had violet eyes and long black hair. She later broke the engagement to test the "blinding promise."

http://www.djournal.com/oxford/life...cle_d7082eb0-ff86-568e-a039-516a5244b742.html



View attachment 164704
Thanks!!! That is so cool to have a face and a bio to go along with the name!!!
 
She later broke the engagement to test the "blinding promise."
'That August, Mary broke off their engagement. “I love you devotedly as you well know,” she would later explain in a letter, “and will be true to you always, but I do not like this binding promise...I think it best to test it.”'

I'm guessing their young age, and the uncertainties of war, made her anxious of the commitment.
 
'That August, Mary broke off their engagement. “I love you devotedly as you well know,” she would later explain in a letter, “and will be true to you always, but I do not like this binding promise...I think it best to test it.”'

I'm guessing their young age, and the uncertainties of war, made her anxious of the commitment.
Totally understand that....it was a very scary time...everywhere in the country, North and South. :D
 
4thflag.jpg




I happened upon this letter in the archives of the University of Mississippi. Please click on this link:

http://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/civil_war/id/1472/rv/singleitem/rec/47

The letter itself is very hard to read so there is a text transcription on the left hand side as you will see. It was written by Jeremiah Gage of Company A, 11th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry on July 3, 1863 from Gettysburg, PA. It'll put a lump in your throat.
Very poignant.
 
I'm also glad he got to write a final letter home. So many wouldn't have had the chance to do that. At least it would provide the family with some semblance of comfort and closure.
It is very sad that he only had enough left in him to write one letter to his mother because he also wanted to write his sisters.
 
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