Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 6 1/2pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Coleman Tilden, Co. H, 43rd Mass. Vols., Camp Rogers, Newbern, [N. C.], May 28, 1863, to his parents, in part: "…I told you that Col. Jones of the 58th [Pa.] was killed…his body was embalmed and sent home. They had quite a procession here to escort his body to the boat. First came the 45th regiment, then two pieces of artillery with the body of the colonel on a caisson. All the cols. of the department acted as pall bearers. Then came along procession of commissioned officers, Gen. Foster among them. In going to the funeral everything was in reverse order…second lieutenants marched ahead and Gen. Foster in the very rear. In coming from the steamer they marched the other way…for some reason…the 58th, his own regiment, did not get there in season. They have been relieved from picket. The 132nd New York taking their place…yesterday was Gen. Foster's birthday and in the evening he had a great blow out. In the day time he visited all the nine month regiments and made speeches…they are trying to raise a heavy artillery regiment for this department. Major Frankle of the 51st is to be colonel. They want to raise two companies from this regiment…the companies are to be officered by men of the regt. where the Co's are recruited. They offer…thirty days furlough as soon as they enlist, one hundred and fifty dollars bounty…I don't believe they will get many to enlist…our pickets captured a prisoner the other day. They saw him and challenged him and he gave no answer…tried to run. The picket fired when the man stopped and gave himself up. He was an Italian and said he was trying to get outside of our lines to go to Wilmington. They carried him to Newbern and he is now in jail. I think he was a spy…Coleman." Much more on friends who are reenlisting. The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG.
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