[CIVIL WAR]. Soldier's letter describing a "narrow escape" from death. "Near Sharpsburg Maryland," 20 September 1862.

3 pages, 5 x 8 in. Addressed to the writer's mother.

The writer first informs his mother that he is in good health, although "we have had very bad times sine I wrote last it has been nothing but fighting and marching..." He expresses his gratefulness to God that he and his brother James are safe.

He goes on to describe his near-death experience, writing: "I have had a narrow escape last Sunday while we was laying in a corn field supporting a battery a spent grape shot fell and struck me on the back of my neck I thought my whole head was taken off I put up my hand and found it their [sic] yet it was not so bad as I thought it was it only swelled my neck a little for a while..."

Turning to what he calls "glorious news," he reports: "we have drove [sic] the rebbles [sic] out of Maryland with terrible loss thay [sic] are pretty well played out dear mother...something seemes [sic] to tell me that the war is near over it can't last much longer for england and france wount [sic] alow [sic] it a few more weeks..."

The letter is signed "William Simonson," and refers to a brother with whom he appears to be in close contact as James. None of the HDS results for either William Simonson or James Simonson revealed a regiment with both names on its roster. Notably, a James H. Simonson of the 79th New York Infantry was engaged at Antietam, and James H. Simonson is reported as having deserted there, on 20 September 1862, the same day this letter was written. We cannot confirm, however, that this is the "James" who is reported as being safe and "sends his love" in the letter featured here.