Our Army is Doing More To Demoralize The Negro Race Than The Southerners Do.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014

A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 8pp. 8vo. & 12mo., written by Pvt. Cyrus E. Ferguson (signed C. E. Ferguson), Co. A, 15th Iowa Vols., "Camp on Ogeechee river, 12 miles from Savannah, Dec. 17, 64," in small part: "...I don't know where our position will be yet for Sherman has not got his lines…established yet…you need not look for Savannah to fall right off…the rebs cut a canal & flooded the swamps round here…there is not…a hill anywhere within miles of here. It is a flat sandy country with plenty of swamps…the trees are covered with hanging moss…you take me to task for my Copperheadism. If you were here you would think as I do…our army is doing more to demoralize the negro race than the Southerners do. Wenches follow the army for no good & the obscene language that passes between them & our soldiers is disgusting & sickening…I have the highest position in the Brigade as musician…[General] Belknap is a great man to stick to…if he suits him & I have given no cause for complaint since I have been detailed as bugler. The 15th has a one horse bugler detailed since I was & I heard Belknap tell the commander of the regt. that he was of no account…[and] he had better take that other Ferguson, meaning Glen which he would have done had not this fellow crowded himself in ahead & he is a sort of a little puppy favorite with the major…we have a great deal of fun with our conscripts. The 15th got about 500 & or greener set of soldiers…as soon as Sherman gets his lines fairly drawn round Savannah another expedition will be fitted out against Charleston…we have not seen saltwater yet, but hope to one of these days for we are not many miles from it…Dear Willie…we have had a nigger boy to cook for us. He makes some fun sometimes & then again he is lazy. Last night I eat my supper in a nigger house they are clean tho' & will do anything…for us. They have a boy & girl. Today we had a roost turkey & it was done first rate too…your mother can show you on the map where we are now…Dear Fannie…it is 55 weeks today since we left home & we are away down in Ga…it is so warm here the most of the time…little girls like you go barefoot & some of them have no shoes to wear…I don't know whether our transports are in the mouth of the Ogeechee or on the coast. Savannah is 18 miles from the sea coast & we are working round it. We have got all the R. R. cut…they have in there…from 10,000 to 25,000 men. Sherman is confident of success. He has been along with the 17th Corps most of the time…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG

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