Description
Rare 4 page letter written by Private Henry Winter of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry. The letter, dated April 23, 1863, and written while encamped at Lebanon, Kentucky. Day’s earlier, the regiment had left Columbia in pursuit of John Hunt Morgan. They would run into the famed Confederate cavalry leader just day’s after Henry sat to scribble this letter. Four pages long and written in blue ink, it appears to be a mix of both German and English as Henry appears to have drifted in and out of the two languages throughout the entire letter. Most of it I am unable to decipher. Words like “Camp” and “barracks in Louisville” are mixed in with his German script. The second page is written entirely in English, while the next page is entirely in German. The last page he has clearly written, “Address your letter Henry Winter Lebanon, Ky. 11 Ky Cavalry Regt. Co. E. in care of Capt. F. Slater”. Henry would muster with the regiment in August, 1862. He would be present with the regiment until his capture at Marysville, Tennessee on November 14th, 1863. Following his capture, he would be transferred to the infamous Andersonville Prison. He would remain there until succumbing to chronic diarrhea on August 18, 1864. Following his death, he was buried at the Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, GA and is currently located at Grave 6101. Wonderful letter from a very rare unit!
