Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on George Washington patriotic stationery, by Musician Conrad William Betts, 29th Illinois Vols., Camp Cairo, Dec. 14, 1861 to his further wife, Ellen M. Sherman, in part: "…we have played for four funerals and yesterday we had Grand Review of all the forces at this point by General Halleck the commander of the Western section. The review was to see if the troops lacked equipment for immediate service…our stay in Cairo is short…our position on the field of battle is a dangerous one…our camp is all excitement. The long roll has been sounded. Our regiment is under marching orders. O mercy, mercy. Good by…C. W. B. Sunday morning Dec. 15th last night we had a big scare. The picket guard was driven in ay Fort Holt and reported a heavy Rebel force marching on the place…all the forces was ordered to be in marching order immediately…our regiment was kept standing all night with their guns in their hands and forty rounds of cartridges each but no enemy made their appearance…Your, Will…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Near fine.
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