U. S. Grant Exacts Strict Discipline On His New Army.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015

War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on McClellan patriotic stationery, by Musician Conrad William Betts, 29th Illinois Vols., Camp Cairo, Dec. 4, 1861 to his further wife, Ellen M. Sherman, in part: "…I'm not my own master after the Battle of Belmont. The General [U. S. Grant] issued an order that he would grant furloughs to every tenth man in each company until they all went hem…he countermanded the order. I could not go while the order was out as two of our boys was at home…you can imagine what unwelcome news this was…when it was read on dress parade. I was angry with everybody…the strictness of a military life no one knows until they have tried it…there is about Fifteen thousand troops here at present and seven gunboats and new ones coming every day or two. It is the supposition we will move south …and attack the strongest fortified place on [the] Miss. River…Columbus twenty miles south of here…ever your Will.". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Also included is an 8pp. 8vo., letter, on "God Speed the Right" patriotic stationery, written by Miss. Ellen "Nellie" Sherman to William on Dec. 22, 1861 along with its original stamped transmittal cover addressed, "C. W. Betts, Cairo, Illinois, [car]e of Col. Rearden, 29 Reg., Ill. Vols., Hall's Brass Band." Both near fine.

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