Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Cyrus E. Ferguson (signed C. E. Ferguson), Co. A, 15th Iowa Vols., New York [City], Jan. 22, 1865. Apparently, Ferguson was charged with going to NYC to buy instruments in order to form a brigade band. In small part: "Still in New York & expect to be until Tuesday…when I expect to start for Port Royal…our corps has had a fight at Pocotaglio…it was a small one such as we have been in the habit of calling skirmishes. The people of New York regard Sherman as a great man & seem to think the was is almost at an end. [The] Rebels that have come over to us say the same thing…I have got my instruments selected & packed at Dodworth's & am waiting for safely to return and pay for them. He has the money with him…we could not get ready to go back when the Arago sailed so we must wait until the Fulton leaves…our instruments, music & everything will cost us between 6 & $700.00. They are of the first class brass instruments, rotary valve expect two second hand instruments that I got, one an Ab Base, the other a BA Tenor which Dodworth had taken & repaired. I did not expect to get all rotary valves but find that the piston valves have played out & I could scarce have got them in the city. I have been to all the store pretty much & find the prices to vary but little while the quality does considerably. I boxed my old clothes…the pants will wear a good while to work in & the coat will do to work into something for Willie & its history may be worth something. I see on looking over my record that I was twice wounded…worse wounds [are] so common that it was not worthy of notice. The ball only striking me on the shoulder & glancing off with out breaking the skin, only making a bruise. It happened in camp before Atlanta…the Soldier's Home is crowded all the time & I have no particular fancy for the society of the greater part of the men stopping here…tho' they are under very strict rules & it is a good institution…the most of the soldiers are such stinking, lousy brutes that they don't know how to receive decent treatment nor how to behave themselves…than in their low vulgar profanity. The Jews show a very great desire that man should be properly clothed, but I cant see it…clothing is very high here & they have two prices here. One is so much in gold. The other so much in currency…there is all kinds of looking people to be seen here…Broadway & Bowery are crowded with the fashionable & there is all kinds of finery to dazzle the eye & in contrast the apple women & beggars…there is not much variation here every day presents about the same throng on Broadway, crowding of omnibuses & street cars & dodging to keep from being run over at the crossing…I had rather run a paint in Cedar Rapids than be one of the upper ten of N. Y…". VG
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