Group of nine (9) autograph letters signed by James F. Wright as a soldier in unidentified Civil War regiment. Each letter written from the field "Camp Near Brandy Station." 19 November 1863 - 12 January 1864. Letters are addressed to Wright's father and his sister "Louisa." 

Approximately twenty soldiers named James F. Wright are identified in HDS as serving in either the Union or Confederate Armies. The letters do not provide enough specifics to definitively identify the author, however, the location and some details provided suggest the soldier may have been a James F. Wright, 6th New York Cavalry. Wright enlisted on 3/10/1862 at Perryville, New York, as a private and mustered into Co. H. He was listed as POW (date and place not stated) and died of disease as POW on 3/8/1865 at Richmond, Virginia. The letters contain general discussion of family matters, packages, pay, camp life, and illness. Wright has been sick for an extended period of time, and repeatedly mentions a hand tremor that keeps him from writing a lengthier missive. Referencing one engagement, though not by name, Wright writes to his sister on 14 December 1862: "...we have ben in a hard fite i supose yo have hered about it and so i won't rite eney thing about it or by that ore company was acking as Schirmashers...."

Accompanying the correspondence are three items of unknown connection to the letters.

The first item appears to be a vintage wooden cribbage board or other variant board game. Though the hole patterns do not match a typical cribbage board, this may have been a field-made or other version. The wood block measures approx. 2 1/4 x 8 in. and is 1 1/2 in deep. Two parallel rows of 10 holes run the length of the piece with a group of 2 matching center holes aligned at each end. A pair of matching scoring pegs complete the game.

Also accompanying the game are two (2) hand-carved gutta percha tokens: a cross with unique circular motifs, approx. 1 x 1 1/2 in, with small hole at top through which a circular metal ring has been inserted; and a miniature pipe, approx. 2 1/2 in. length, featuring an unadorned stem and a man's face on the bowl. These items may represent Civil War soldier's art or POW art, perhaps created by Wright while he was incarcerated as a POW.

An intriguing grouping worthy of additional research.

[Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Relics]

Letters with expected creasing at folds, toning, and wear, and each with later pencil notation at top right "HHR."