John Sower Letter, 1861

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195

Summary

Extent:
2 items, less than .33 cubic feet.
Creator:
Loudoun County Historical Society, Leesburg, VA
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of a letter sent by John Sower dated 3 October 1861. The letter is a reply to his father and describes skirmishes around Point of Rocks where Confederate forces were advancing toward the Maryland side of the Potomac River. In the first part of the letter he describes Union soldiers firing cannons upon a brick house and burning down a log house. In the last part of the letter, he declares his well-being and asks whether or not his friend Frank had enlisted in the army.

Biographical / historical:

John Sower or Sowers (d. 6 Jul 1864) enlisted in Company N of the 28th “Goldstream” Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army in Luzerne County on 20 August 1861 under Brigadier General John White Geary (1819-1873). The 28th Regiment, was stationed along the northern side of the Potomac River between Noland’s Ferry and the Antietam Aqueduct for much of 1861 and 1862. On 10 October 1862, surplus men of the 28th Regiment (companies L, M, N, O, and P) at Loudoun Heights were organized under then Lieutenant Colonel Pardee to form the 147th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Sowers joined Company C and was later promoted to Corporal on 11 November 1863. The 147th Regiment participated in the Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg before fighting in Tennessee at the Battle of Lookout Mountain and during the Chattanooga – Ringold Campaign. The 147th also participated in the Atlanta Campaign advancing through Northwest Georgia during June and July 1864. Sower was wounded at Pine Knob, Georgia on 15 June 1864. He died from his wounds in Nashville on 6 July 1864. Sower is buried in the Nashville National Cemetery.

Acquisition information:
Formerly part of the collections of the Loudoun County Historical Society.
Physical description:
.