Training With Damp Gun Powder & Good Commentary on Future Commanders.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015

Good war-date Union soldier's letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Coleman Tilden, Co. H, 43rd Mass. Vols., Newbern, N. C., Nov. 23, 1862, to his parents, in part: "…we went on guard…with loaded muskets…friday morning the guard fired at a target…the three best shot to be excused from guard the next time…mine did not go off and I had to draw the charge…it being so damp it having rained all the time we was on guard…stood two long hours while we were inspected by Brig. Gen. Avery and staff. We stood at shoulder arms one half the time…last night there was two guns discharged and the long roll sounded…across the river…they say there is rebels within eight miles of us…the remarks of our chaplain today was on our duty, to God, our country and our families…we were given twenty rounds of cartridges…most eve man in camp has had a vomiting spell, but no one knows the cause of it…I was taken, it came on in about, but I didn't vomit. Everything was well in half an hour…we have been brigade with the 17th, 23rd, 45th regiments under Colonel Amory [future bvt. brig. gen. Thomas J. C. Amory] of the 17th acting Brig. Gen…I do not care about having you say anything about what I tell you of our officers, but our colonel is nothing but a stick, a regular slow coach. He has got his wife in Newbern…we have scarcely seen him since we came…and has no life or energy…I saw Lieut. Col. [John F.] Fellows [17th Mass. Vols., POW Batchelder's Creek, NC, 2/1/64] and Colonel [John] Kurtz [23rd Mass.]…on brigade drill. Colonel Fellows looks much grayer than he did at home…this afternoon on drill we were the poorest drilled regiment on the field. The forty fifth [?] we looked like old veterans…by the time we go home instead of being called the Tiger regiment will be called the fizzle regiment. It has been a fizzled so far…I have visited Newbern for the first time…your affectionate son, Colman." The original transmittal cover is included. VG to 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).