Raynors HCA 2015-11
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.], Dec. 28, 1862, to his parents, in part: "…you want to know who is in the tent with me…taking them as they live in the tent. First come Tufts, then McKenzie, Harlow, Rackliff, Wylie, Corporals Adams and Coburn, Carruth brother of Sumner [who was then lieutenant colonel of the 35th Mass. and future brevet brig. gen.] and the one that I sleep with I call him my wife then Tilden, Morrill, Richardson…Judkins, the tall man, who made our seventeenth man has not been seen since…the day we started for Newbern. He is among the missing whether killed or taken prisoner or skedaddled no one knows. None of us wished harm to the man, but we all hope we never shall see him again. We have got a splendid man in our tent in Mr. Rogers. He is one of the nicest men in the company. Everyone likes him…when our regiment was sent off alone…at night our company got together and sang America after which Mr. Rogers made a few remarks and then offered up the best and most touching prayer I ever heard. It affected us all the more deeply as…we were in the most dangerous position…we were alone right in the midst of the enemy…they could have come upon us in force and taken us all or killed us all if they had known our force. The companies out as skirmishers say…if we had staid there till morning we should have been attacked…we were in a small open field…with woods…we were miles away from any help…I felt as though I had as best be somewhere else, but I did not say anything and I guess I should have done my duty. It was a pretty hard sight to see the men fall out on the march…was awful hot, almost suffocating…I did not in all the march fall behind…once in a while I would go ahead…our company was without a commissioned officer for two days. They were not able to keep up…Orderly Sergeant Edmunds had command of the company…next time we shall know better what to do…I kept in good spirits…when the other boys were grumbling and growling…I kept my mind busy with thoughts of home…I went to church this morning and heard an excellent discourse by our chaplain [Jacob M. Manning]…he is not afraid to talk to the officers. He tells them their duty as well as the men. He was hard on them today on account of some of them using profane language on the march…that march…took the starch out of the officers…most of them have got darkies for servants and so had nothing to carry…I noticed that a great many of the officers who were very strict before don't care so much about using so much authority [now]…tell Si that though our battles were not on quite as large a scale as the ones he was in. I have seen a little of what it is. The rebels are hard looking specimens of humanity, but they will fight. They have no uniforms and are armed with everything from a flintlock shot gun to a Springfield rifle…tell Sammie I was going to send a little nigger boy home to him for a Christmas present, but he was afraid he should freeze so I think I will wait till summer…P. Clapp is color sergeant and John Prouty is one of the color corporals..by your own affectionate babe, of only 172 1/2 lbs, Coleman…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG.
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