Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Coleman Tilden, Co. H, 43rd Mass. Vols., Newbern, [N. C.], May 17, 1863, to his parents, in part: "…yesterday our brigade was reviewed by our division commander General Palmer. We made quite a fine sight…for the first time we took our fight position in line, the right of the brigade. There has been a great deal of dispute about it between our colonel [Holbrook] and the colonel [Codman] of the 45th, but it has been decided in our favor…we are the first regiment in the first brigade of the first division, department N. C…on an expedition our regiment will be in the advance…it is…[a] more dangerous place than any other…those in advance [don't] always have to do the most fighting. Every morning we have a battalion drill…according to Hanover's tactics. It is awfully silly. Capt. Hanover…drills us as though he was a battalion and…has tactics which no one in the world ever heard of…I should like to talk just as I feel about the officers of the 43rd, but I have made it a rule not to…while I am in the service…if I ever get home, I can say what I please. As long as you talk in praise of them it is all right, but if you say any thing against…them and they find out they can come down on you as hard as they please…I am here in a new place…to do guard duty at Gen. Amory's headquarters . I applied to the captain for a chance to go and here I am…each man goes on…[duty] at the front door of the general's house…we do not have to take our gun, but dress up in our best with boots blacked and our belts with bayonets…the captain picked the men. They said that they ought to be detailed as their names come on the rolls…but the captain sent who he pleased. You told me…that you visited the Merrimac…our company were in…the hold under the main cabin some twenty feet below deck…imagine half of the men sea sick and vomiting, an awful storm raging and everything so dark and gloomy and new to us and you can imagine a little how we got along…Coleman." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG.
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