Description
War date cover from Esau Worrel Franklin of the 29th Virginia Infantry, written to his father, Joel Franklin. Esau would enlist with the 29th Virginia in June, 1861. He would re-enlist in April of 1862 with a promotion to 1st sergeant the following month. Two more promotions would follow. One to 2nd lieutenant in June, 1863 and to 1st lieutenant on May 16th, 1864. The very same day he would be wounded in the head while engaged in Drewry’s Bluff. Hospitalized for a week, he would return to the regiment and finish out his enlistment at wars end. The 29th Virginia would see fighting in a number of engagements including the Suffolk Campaign, Sieges of Knoxville and Plymouth, Drewry’s Bluff, North Anna, Cold Harbor and a handful of others leading up to Appomattox. Signed on the front cover “from Esau W. Franklin, Private, Capt. Hale’s Co. 29th Va. Regt.”. Stamped Abinodon, Virginia with a date of January 7 lacking the year. A blue 10 cent Jefferson Davis stamp is affixed to the envelope as well. Very nice war date Virginia cover.
