Lot 1178

24TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY SOLDIER KILLED AT PICKETT'S CHARGE

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24TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY SOLDIER KILLED AT PICKETT'S CHARGE

Estimate: $400 - $600

Starting Bid: $200

(0 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

24TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY SOLDIER KILLED AT PICKETT'S CHARGE
Rare letter written by a Confederate soldier who would be killed during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg on July 3, a few months hence. The letter, 4pp. 8vo., was penned at 'Camp Near Suffolk', Apr. 25, 1863. Cpl. Joseph L. Hyden, Co. F, 24th Virginia Infantry and part of Kemper's Brigade, writes his cousin, in part: '...We have been moving from place to place, often not seeing our baggage for weeks at a time, and all of the above-mentioned items are hard to obtain. My letters are like angel visits, few and far between, but I hope you will forgive me for my seeming neglect. Well, since I have had the pleasure of seeing you, I have had some experience in soldiering. In February 1862, I re-enlisted, received a furlough, went home, stayed 35 days, then went to Yorktown. I was in the Williamsburg fight and got detached from my regiment, or in fact from the whole army, for when I got to the hospital the army had all gone, and I was sick and could not keep out of the way of the Yankees, as there was a regiment of cavalry there...and infantry within three hundred yards of me, and I had to creep out in the bushes and got a Dr. [who] who put me in a barn, and I succeeded in getting to Petersburg, and from there I got to my brother's. Stayed nearly two months and just got to my regiment in time to participate in the Seven Days' fight and got wounded. I went to Richmond, stayed two weeks, then to Petersburg... stayed two weeks, then home, where I stayed two months, and then returned to my regiment. I have been with the regiment on all marches from Winchester to this place, which has been to Culpeper County, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Chester Station, Petersburg & Goldsboro, North Carolina, Kinston, North Carolina, Franklin Station, Virginia, and then to this place where we have been laying in line of battle for 15 days and have been in two picket fights, the hardest I have ever seen I think we'll return to Blackwater near Franklin Station in a few days, as this is proving to be a merely a foraging expedition. We've secured a great deal of provisions and forage, about all we can get. It wouldn't benefit us much to take the town of Suffolk, with the inevitable loss of life that would follow in charging such a well-fortified and protected place...I received a letter from Bill a short time ago and one from Giles informing me that all our relations in that area are good. As my paperwork is scarce and the enemy is putting up a few shots at our lines, as they do every day, I will close. Write soon and directly to Co. F, 24th Virginia, Kemper's Brigade, Pickett's Division, Longstreet's Corps. My love to all of the family. I am affectionately your cousin, J. F. Hyden...' Top of third page torn off but with no evident loss of text, with records.

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000