CIVIL WAR. Almond Jacobs. 8 war-date letters to his sister in Maine, Mrs. John W. Parsons ("Sister Vic"). Virginia and Washington, March- June 1864. Total of 25 pages, together with cased photograph. Few in pencil (some faint), mostly ink, with 7 envelopes, and includes 1908 postcard presumably from a descendant. Early letters include requests for letters from home, his surprise at the good quality of food and circumstances. Later, he remarks about finding lice on his body, that worms are running away with his food, but he has avoided hard duty because he has been made a bugler. Much of his correspondence recounts daily life, with occasional comments on politics; he favors Lincoln but that many soldiers prefer Gen. McClellan. When his Company H. 1st D.C. Cavalry is sent to Portsmouth, his comfortable life ceases. Soldier morale suffers, but he avoids the harsh punishments administered. He vows that they will never make him a slave, "there are niggers enough for that here." In June his regiment sees action as part of Butler's division in Virginia; on June 11 (last letter in the collection) he reports that a shell passes within two feet over his head but fails to burst. The cased tintype photograph shows a young Jacobs, but not the one writing these letters because of the notation on the verso: "James Almon Dexter Jacobs died in Civil War 1863 at 18/19 yrs of age. About 1862" [apparently 18 is his age in the photograph]. $500 - $750 Estimate $500-700
