Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 10 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Coleman Tilden, Co. H, 43rd Mass. Vols., Newbern, [N. C.], Mar. 8-17, 1863, to his parents, in part: "…Friday a large expedition started. One part of it went by the Kinston road and the other part consisting of seven regiments infantry, one half regiment cavalry and twelve pieces of artillery went by our camp on the road towards Pollocksville…there is a large force of rebels somewhere above us…and this expedition is to drive them off and in case the enemy is too much force to send to Newbern for help…we have heard nothing from them…there has been a queer quarrel going on…between our Colonel and Colonel Codman of the 45th [Mass.]…it is rather laughable to us…Colonel Codman was commissioned by the government before our colonel…but our colonel was sworn into the U. S. service first by about two hours…Codman has claimed…he was commissioned first. Holbrook couldn't see it…therefore [he] was senior officer. Codman would not give in so they wrote to the Secretary of War. He said that Holbrook was right, but Gen. Foster said no. They were nothing but militia and it mad no matter…it was the commissions that told. Well, said Holbrook if we are nothing but Militia we are state soldiers and I shall carry nothing but the state flag. So on drills and reviews while all other regiments carried all their colors…we have always carried nothing but the Old State flag. Now the question is settled, Col. Holbrook is senior and will…now take his right position…yesterday on drill the Old Stars and Stripes were brought out, saluted…and will now take their place in the line. We also raised a new flag thirty six feet long and twenty wide on our new flag staff…our colonel would not hoist them until the question is settled…the expedition arrived Tuesday…they went the same route that we did…one of Co. K's men died in the hospital…two or three days before Co. C arrived from Beaufort one of their men [William H. Kingsbury] who was sick with…Typhoid fever escaped from the hospital and jumped overboard. He was rescued but is caused his death. He was probably crazy. That makes four deaths…since we have been here…one from Co. K [Cornelius W. Hutchins] who died from exhaustion on the first march…we also had three men killed making a loss of seven men which is not very bad…the 58th New York…it has not lost a single man killed in battle…it seems queer that some regiments will go right into the battle and be all cut up, like the 35th Mass. while others will be …Corporal Adams is boss of a gang of niggers building a new road under Lieut. Bradbury. Bryant is our corporal on fortifications…Colesworthy color corporal and so gets clear of all duty except drill where the colors are carried…so you did not think that picture was natural. Well, the boys here say it was a tip top one…we have just arrived home from a short expedition…Newbern was taken from the rebels the 14th day of March/62 so…today is the first anniversary. The rebels have said that they would be in possession of the place again in less than a year…Foster was going to celebrate it by a grand review in Newbern…our pickets had been driven in and quite a sharp skirmish had taken place and that we must be prepared to be called out to fight while we was…the review. We were ordered to carry forty rounds and be in readiness…we met our folks coming back the rebs having skedaddled…they threw four shells across the Neuse river right into the 44th camp. Our folks at Fort Totten having been shelling the woods across the river all morning…". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG.
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