Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A great war-date Union soldier's letter, 6pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Robert H. Crist (1829-1912), Co. F, 21st Indiana Vols., [later captain 1st Ind. Hvy. Artillery], Camp Dix, Baltimore, Sept. 21, 1861, in part: "…revile beat at sunrise, all hands turn out to be ready to answer to their names…the orderly sergeant comes around to detail men to stand guard. Amongst whom are…[himself]…guard mounting…takes nearly 1/2 an hour. The new guard is marched up to the guard quarters where the 2 relief are standing in line to salute them…Crist is No. 1, takes his post in front of the guard quarters to stand 2 hours…to walk back and forth a space of about 15 rods…passes have to be written by the Orderly Sergt, signed by the Capt…and then they go to the Colonel with their uniform, gun, etc. If they pass inspection the colonel signs their pass…Baltimore is under martial law. We have to have a pass in town…many of the boys had not had their whiskey in some time…many of the boys are not in on time. The colonel wants a picket sent out after them. Sergt. Baker, McWhister and Crist go out to the ferry…and as fast as the boys land call for their passes if they are on time, let them pass…if it has they arrest them…after a while they gathered 6 or 8…3 more guards…came to relieve Baker & Crist…they had 3 chaps who were good and drunk. They started with them for camp…they go very well…but when about 1/2 way the whiskey begins to effect them. They want to fight, hang back…McW. gets a bayonet run through his under lip. The prisoners were put in the guard tents. Now in the tent is 5 or 6 drunken chaps who soon get to fighting…most of them have to be tied. All is quiet for a few minutes…just now comes another picket guard with 5 or 6 prisoners not so drunk…they…go into another tent…another tent has a man sentenced to 14 days solitary confinement…making 3 tents full…we forgot to loom through the quarters from dark to 9 o'clock…first tent; several boys sitting around counting their money making arrangement to pay…their debts…tent No. 2…a chap…has got…gold and is charging…5 and 10 per cent to cash Treasury notes…No. 6 more card playing…in fact I have looked through the tents…and found card playing in nearly one half…3 o'clock some of the drunken prisoners wake up dry and cold and they make use of some language more noted for emphasis than rhetoric. The prisoners are untied…about 7 o'clock comes the huckster women with their cakes, pies, apples…they have their bills to collect. They have the name of their Dr. and have to hunt him up in a crowd of 700 or 800 men. Most of the men pay their debts. Some few…deny the charge. The Dutch, Irish, or Ni--ger women finds out the Captain of their Co. and goes to him [to] make her complaint. Captain calls up the man and settles that matter…some of the women have brot in whiskey which they know is contrary to the rules…the consequence is the Col. forbids any hucstering women…into camp…wash women are allowed in…during the day there has been several fights in camp…please take care of this as I may want it sometime to look at…". Much more detailed content related to what one would see and heard if they were able to go back in time and visit a real live Union camp!. VG to near fine.
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