Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
War-date Union soldier's letter, 5 1/4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Coleman Tilden, Co. H, 43rd Mass. Vols., Newbern, [N. C.], June 21, 1863, to his parents, in part: "…the boys say they do not belong to the 43rd and…they belong to the 4th company Chelsea volunteers. Some say they belong to the 1st Mass. conscripts…yesterday we gave up our guns to the 17th and took theirs in exchange…we had a splendid looking set of guns and we should liked to carry them home. Now we got a mixture of every thing Enfields, Austrian and Belgian with a Sprinkling of Springfields. I have got an Enfield said to have been taken at Kinston. They are a hard looking set of guns. We changed with Co. H 17th. It is called the "British Company." Capt. Loyd perhaps you remember it…they had a recruiting office at Chapman Hall…there are nothing but Englishmen belong to it. Our Co. has had the name of the best looking guns in the regiment. My gun was as clean as could be and the barrel looked like silver, but I don't think I shall do much to the one I have now…it was thought best to furnish the 17th with serviceable guns and so took ours…the 8th regiment have not domino scarcely anything since they have been here for the reason that their guns were not good for anything…the 17th will probably do escort for us…w e learn that the rebels are marching into Pennsylvania…there is great excitement up north…the nine months regiments at home will volunteer for a short time if the trouble really amounts to anything…it will not be much because…the enemy would be putting themselves in rather a poor position…it may prove to be merely a raid [and] I hope nothing more…they must be all ready for them at the north and not let them get too near…Katie wrote me about the Capt of Co. G in the 46th knocking a man down. I had not heard of it before. People in Chelsea seem to busy themselves about my affairs a great deal don't they…we are all rather anxious to hear more from the doings in Pennsylvania…Coleman." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG.
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