Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A great war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Robert H. Crist (1829-1912), Co. F, 21st Indiana Vols., [later captain 1st Ind. Hvy. Artillery], Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 6, 1863, in part: "…I am again at the state capital of La. poor forlorn looking place it is…with me came some 175 or 200 men…we are camped in a beautiful magnolia grove 2 miles below town…our Regt had to come up and garrison the fort and here we are in the sun, weather hot & dry hot streets, very dusty. The barracks are full of sick nutmegs. We hope they will get sick of their company and get well & join their Regts…there are a few wandering guerrillas between here and Jackson & Mobile…Port Hudson is garrisoned by Corps de Afrique except the 6th Mich who are now promoted to heavy artillery. Gen. Grant was in N. O. a few days ago…the 13th Army Corps is there. They are a hard set. They have been staying for 2 years in the wilds of Ky. & Tenn…they took New Orleans by storm. Patrolls & police are no where, but they look more like fighting than Gen. Banks nine month men did…the 25th Conn. did say they would see it out [the fall of Port Hudson], but the balance were far from it. Many of the 9 mo. troops never saw the rebel works till after gardener had surrendered. The rebels made a raid on Springfield Landing a few days before the surrender. Springfield Ldg. is a short distance below P. H…the Nutmegs that were burrowed back in the hollows got alarmed and ran up is sight of our batteries and some of them ventured up in sight of the rebs works. Our boys say that the ground…on the day of the surrender resembled a cheese full of skippers. Those dough boys had crawled in to avoid shells…I was out to visit our old battleground a few days ago. The timber is all cut down…many of the houses are gone that was there. Nothing looks natural about there except the two grave yards. My old commissary building is torn down everything…looks deserted and forlorn. It makes a sad & sickening feeling come over one…Annie thinks we will have peace when we get a democratic president…she got that of her mother…she says the Irish of New York caused the riot because they were drafted. I think hardly they will be able to lay all that on the Irish…I wish Gen. Butler had the settling of their lash. There is more Secesh in New York than there is in La…Nigger soldiers are all the rage here now…commiss[ioned] & non commis[sioned] are about taking commissions in the Corps de Afrique. They are getting up the 18th Regt now. Everybody is satisfied that nigger soldiers will be all the go as soon as our 3 years is out and a great many men have soldiered so long they cannot think of going home to work and $100 per month is good enough pay…now I am on an equal with a nigger…have 10 months more to serve then go home to raise money to pay nigger soldiers or take a commission…and be superior to a nigger-live an easy life & a short one for we would have to stay in the South, go to H--l at last…there are very few citizens here, nearly every building is a hospital or store…". The original transmittal cover is also included. VG
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