September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
A war-date Union soldier's letter group of six letters (two partial), totaling 18pp. mostly folio, written by Pvt. Hiram P. Teed, Co. A, 144th New York Vols., between March 14 through April 14, 1863. In part: "…[Camp near Cloud's Mills Va. 3/28/63]…I might as well fill up this sheet of paper with some of my thoughts and they are most constantly on you Loving Wife. I wish I could be at home this dull day. O! I could tell you of lots of love & practice some too...Many of the officers in our army will have a big pile of sins to answer for both of sins of omission & commission from thoughtless, needles, exposure of the health & lives of their men. Our Regt is suffering the worst from sickness...several have died this week...I want to see you & love you so bad or good. I should say sometimes I do like to think of you & the deep dear affectionate love that awaits me when I return to your loving arms & fervent caress & lovely embraces. If I am wicked in writing of love so much tell me...[Camp at Vienna 3/30/63]…the ambulances hurried the rest of the sick by dozens to Fairfax...there is a RR & wood station here & a quantity of Gov. stores for teamster supply that I suppose the Rebs would like...one co. was detailed for picket duty an alarm about midnight brought out the rest of the Regt to stand under arms a while, while the 127 Regt. were sent out the rest of the night...[Camp at Cloud's Mills, Va. 4/14/63]…My will of course is that while I live I share with you what little I have or enjoy & if I go first while you remain mine that you have what little we now have or the income from it for your comfort & support...you may come & see me & we will do our best towards making a B--y & then we will have a mutual agreement & mere binding instrument to cement our love & future happiness, a bond or mortgage something to take care of you perhaps & be your stay in declining years & be a living testament or will to share our or your fortune with you...[no date]…I hope you will not make yourself sick in trying to make yourself a perfect songster. I would rather prefer you having good health, than to be a perfect Nightingale in song...[no date]…I am alone now & if you were [here] we might have a cozy time. You might hug & kiss me to your hearts content & no one see us..."…plus; a letter from his wife, reading, in part: "...[Almond, 3/23/63]…I was growing anxious about your well being, fearing you had been in engagements was wounded; or sick. How many sleepless nights your absence will cost your wife...I believe Libbie almost worships you & she must feel this separation terribly. Oh! if George goes, half of my existence will go with him, & what weary, weary, days & still more dreary nights will settle upon me for years. Yet, this & more, thousands of my country women are suffering & have suffered since the commencement of this accursed Rebellion - I hope we will not be obliged to send many more men out of Northern Wis. as there is danger of an outbreak among the Indians & there are non to many in such a case...". Sexually frustrated Teed would have to wait until he returned home in June 1865, but not after fighting at the battles of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, and Honey Hill, S. C. Overall VG.
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