Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on patriotic stationery, by Musician Conrad William Betts, 29th Illinois Vols., Camp Cairo, Nov.24, 1861, in part: "…we have been out on a wild goose chase after Jef Tompson and it nearly used me up. We had three days rations to carry…and two large blankets…overcoat, canteen, swords and revolver…enough to load a pack mule…we had to march from twelve to twenty miles per day…last Monday Jef Tompson was at Price's Landing, Mo…with fifteen hundred Rebels. As the Platt Valley was making her regular trip to St. Louis he stopped her and took all she had onboard…Monday night our regiment was ordered into Mo. to cut off his retreat but his marauding party being mounted we were a day and night behind…so we were ordered back to Cairo…there is about fifteen hundred here. Yesterday the Mary Denning came down from St. Louis with seventy eight pieces of cannon from four pounder field pieces up to sixty four pounders and five hundred Marines from Boston and Philadelphia…sent here to man our new gunboats which will be here in a few days…Fremont's old army is ordered to be at this place within fifteen days…I hope it will not be another Belmont affair…yours truly, C. W. Betts…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Near fine.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.